This chapter of the podcast discusses the symbolism of wolves in different cultures, particularly Native American cultures. Wolves are seen as symbols of humility, good motherhood, and feminine attributes. The concept of a mother wolf that displays both fierceness and caretaking is explored, highlighting how other members of the pack contribute to the upbringing of the young. The chapter also examines the vulnerability of wolves and challenges the perception of lone wolves as a big scary threat. It emphasizes that lone wolves are seeking partnership and more territory, and the vulnerability and ferocity can coexist in both wolves and humans.
The wolf carries an almost unbearable amount of symbolism in western culture, encapsulating the predatory, the carnal, the supernatural and the ravenous. But in her book Wolfish, Erica Berry suggests that it’s time to understand wolves differently: as tender, as hunted, as guardians of the landscape.
What’s more, those evil qualities may be better attributed to ourselves than to wolves. Berry weaves memoir with natural history, cultural critique, folklore and conservation to show that wolves have too often been a cypher for all our fears, and that this has left them under threat of extinction.
In this fascinating and wide-ranging conversation, recorded as part of Katherine’s True Stories Book Club, Erica discusses her experiences with wolves real and imagined.
Katherine's new book, Enchantment, is available now: US/CAN and UK
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