Irrational guilt and how it affects an individual
The narrator is troubled by the death of his older brother and is affected, one could say haunted; by the guilt because he believes that he is the one who caused it. His brother died in an unfortunate accident while the two siblings were taking care of their cattle; needless to say that it wasn't the narrator's fault. Nevertheless, the narrator is troubled with the guilt and thoughts of what would have happened if things didn't go as they did-if his brother's death could have been prevented. The narrator's current state of mind related to his brother's death is perfectly described in this quote from the novel:
"Its shelves held mementos of a childhood, two childhoods, two brothers, one now dead, the other servant to a memory of death."
Emotional alienation
From the start of the novel the narrator makes it clear that he is emotionally alienated from the rest of the world. He feels nothing for his mother and grandmother, not even the girl he brought home to be his wife; he doesn't care for her presence especially. Further on, we realize that this alienation stems from his childhood, the loss of his brother and later his father. It could also be said that his mother's coldness influenced him, considering the story of a surviving duck she heartlessly killed and had for dinner. From this emotional detachment, the narrator gives an objective view of the people around them. The connections he tries to make, like with the woman from bar or Agnes, are soon deemed futile, he is alienated from stalking white people and the Native Americans, he is a stranger to both and both beat him up. The narrator has an alienation from himself as well. In one instance he talks of wanting to lose himself, to stand beneath clouds and have his shadow erased, himself along with it.
