Boy of the Painted Cave

Boy of the Painted Cave draws a stark contrast between characters who are capable of independent thought and those who are not. This is seen clearly in the interactions and conflicts between Tao and the clan’s leader, Volt, as well as the other hunters. The novel opens with the conclusion of a dispiriting, unsuccessful hunt that has the men returning nearly empty-handed to a hungry clan. As Tao quickly discovers, the hunters are limited in their territories by the clan’s superstition and fear of evil spirits. A fertile and abundant land, the Slough, lies nearby, but the people would rather go hungry than venture into an area that has been deemed cursed and taboo. As an independent thinker, Tao quickly recognizes that the clan’s fears are unfounded. If he adhered to the clan’s thoughts about the Slough, he would likely have starved in his cave or had to return and beg re-admission to the clan. Instead, he thinks for himself and makes use of the Slough, sustaining himself, Ram, Kala, and the rest of the clan.

The Slough is an important symbol of independent thought in the novel, as Tao reflects on the dissonance between what it has to offer and the way the clan views it. Before he enters for the first time, Tao reflects on the Slough’s reputation: “The elders said it was peopled by demons. The hunters never went there, and the women would not dig its roots or harvest its berries lest they become cursed by the evil spirits” (32). For a moment, Tao almost lets the taboo hold him back, but he follows his curiosity and forges onward. He finds plentiful food and natural resources and feels “a new lightness” (33). Tao’s acceptance of Ram demonstrates another instance in which is ability to think for himself. His clan’s taboos would have had him chase off or kill the wolf dog, but Tao’s capacity for independent thought allowed him to identify the wolf dog’s harmlessness and need for help. In helping Ram, he earned the wolf dog’s loyalty and a valuable companion in hunting. Several times, Ram helps defend Tao from larger, more dangerous animals.

Other characters in the novel also demonstrate the importance of thinking for yourself. Though Tao’s mother is dead throughout the book, Tao learns more about her through stories told by other people. She is represented as a person who loved to create, gave freely to others, and insisted on thinking for herself. Even her decision to keep Tao as a baby shows she thought for herself and refused to be restrained or manipulated by what others thought was right. Tao owes his life to her ability to think for herself. She saw innate value in him and held onto him with love and compassion. After she died, Volt decided that Tao would be placed in the wild to be eliminated by predators. Kala defied this order and saved Tao, showing that she, too, can think for herself. Volt, on the other hand, shows the dangers of not thinking for yourself. Volt’s strict, almost fanatical adherence to tradition and taboo leaves his people at risk of starving. Tao, having learned the benefits of hunting with wolf dogs, suggests the method to Volt. Volt’s response is, “We will have no evil wolf dogs at this camp! […] They are a curse of demons. We will hunt like men, not like evil spirits” (42). Tao knows there is no point asking these men to think for themselves so devoted are they to the idea of evil spirits. The clan suffers for these close-minded beliefs.