What is the last word of keesh? why did it require dignity and manhood to speak

The last word of Keesh was "It is not for a boy to know about witches, and I know nothing about witches. I only have means whereby I may kill an ice-bear with ease, that's all. It would be headcraft, not witchcraft".

In "The Story of Keesh" by Jack London, the people of the tribe did not believe that Keesh had hunt a large polar bear by himself, so they accused him and his mother of witchcraft. It required dignity and manhood for him to defend himself and speak against the elder hunters who disliked him.

“It is not for a boy to know about witches, and I know nothing about witches. I only have means whereby I may kill an ice-bear with ease, that's all. It would be headcraft, not witchcraft".

Further Explanation:  

The above given line were the last words of Keesh, which required manhood and dignity to speak. In "The Story of Keesh" composed by Jack London, the people of the tribe did not accept that Keesh had killed a large polar bear on his own, so they blamed him and his mother of using witchcraft. It needed manhood and dignity for him to stand-up for himself and speak against the elder hunters who disliked him. He needed to be strong for his family and group and thus spoke all those words. It requires lot of courage from one’s side to defend himself against elder hunters. The words of Keesh made those elder hunters condemn him. They believed that this boy (that is Keesh) speaks like a matured man, and said rude things on their faces.  

Keesh told that the people of the tribe that he had used his brain to hunt down and kill the polar bear instead of performing the witchcraft.  But they did not believe Keesh. They were not able to accept the fact that a 13-year-old boy can hunt down a big bear. So, they accused him and his mother of using witchcraft. Then Keesh told them that he used to provide meatball covered with ice to bear before hunting it. And, when it got sick, then Keesh killed it. When people of the tribe heard this story they felt guilty and made Keesh their leader. Keesh got the biggest igloo and lots of food.

Learn more:

1. Which phrase from martin Luther king jar’s "i have a dream” speech contains the strongest emotional connotations?

2. What is the chief claim of "what to the slave is the fourth of July?”

Answer Details:

Grade: Secondary

Subject: English

Chapter: The story of Keesh byJack London

Keywords: The story of Keesh, Keesh, Last words of Keesh, Dignity and Manhood, Ice-bear, Witchcraft, tribe, people of tribe, elder hunters, hunting of ice-bear.