Crazy Horse and Custer

A detailed Summary of Crazy Horse and Custer


Stephen Ambrose, in his dual biography entitled Crazy Horse and Custer: The Parallel Lives of Two American Warriors, recounts a vision of young Crazy Horse in which he was given advice by a mysterious warrior that, if followed, would give him a "powerful medicine" of invulnerability against arrow and bullet alike (Ambrose 68). Despite the historically accurate nature of the story, there is very real symbolism found in this dream, best suited for a young brave seeking his identity on the Plains.

This vision event could fall into a number of benchmarks within Campbell's Cosmogonic Cycle and the adventure of the hero. For example, it might represent the call to adventure, a time when Crazy Horse (or "Curly," as he was known then) found his place within the tribe as a great warrior of powerful skill and constitution. It is more likely, however, that the vision marks the supernatural aid, a helpful force beyond human comprehension, perhaps from the world of the Great Sprit, or simply the hidden wisdom of the mind, unlocked through hunger and hardship (Campbell, 69). This vision, regarded as spiritual fate, was much more than prediction; "whatever the vision proscribed for the dreamer, it was wakan,


The small stone tied behind the "mysterious" warrior's ear is a bit tough to interpret without better knowledge of the tribe's customs and aesthetic adornment practices. Perhaps this was a common form of jewelry for the Sioux warrior. If not, however, its position behind the ear has the potential for great symbolic importance. For example, almost immediately after this vision, Crazy Horse and his friend Hump venture from the camp in order to find buffalo; although Hump was unable to identify the position of any herds by putting his ear to the ground, Crazy Horse could hear the buffalo and provided much-needed food for his family and tribe. Hearing is often associated with alertness and hunting skill, both of which Crazy Horse achieved in great measure throughout his career as a hunter.

Although the dream may seem mysterious upon initial contemplation, as the story unfolds, more symbols become clear representations of actual events. The actual interpretation of the dream by Crazy Horse the elder is a turning point in Curly's life, when, at least in spirit, he crosses the threshold between the life of a boy and that of a man.

The dirt streaks that he is advised to apply to himself and his horse are the symbols of humble modesty, as well as associations with the earth, a spirit of great influence within the many tribes of Native American

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Approximate Word count = 909
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: People

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