Beyond
the Black River has always been one of my favorite Conan
yarns. It has been characterized by others as REH’s most
personal tale; so much so that he appears in the story as Balthus.
Most
of the discussion of this tale has focused on the final
quote. “Barbarism is the natural state of mankind,” the
borderer said, still staring at the Cimmerian. “Civilization is
unnatural. It is a whim of circumstance. And barbarism must always
ultimately triumph.”
I
can’t say I ever fully appreciated the meaning of this quote.
However, I did feel that there was truth, as well as power, in the
statement. I recently read another book about uncivilized beings.
By comparing the “natural state” of animals as characterized
in Felix Salten’s Bambi to REH’s “natural state” of
mankind; I hope to come to a better understanding of what REH
meant.
Both
books feature several supporting characters and we never see the
world completely through the main character’s eyes. Conan not
being the main character is very effective. The story flows from
Balthus. We see things mostly through his eyes. Conan is a
believable superman in this story. His introduction, the handmade
helmet, the way the wilderness does not frighten him, are all
calculated to show that Conan is more like this story’s enemy,
the Picts, than the settlers he is siding with.
Conan
realizes the hypocrisy of colonization: “There’s plenty of
good land east of the Bossonian marches. If the Aquilonians would
cut up some of the big estates of their barons, and plant wheat
where now only deer are hunted, they wouldn’t have to cross the
border and take the land of the Picts away from them.” Yet Conan
accepts his role as servant to the empire. He finds adventuring
more to his liking than farming, etc.
Conan
is the only hope for the settlers. The Picts are far too numerous
for the settlers to prevail. The small attack force is a good plot
device. Conan going alone would seem too unreal. Yet that is how
Conan ends up. His attack force is all ambushed. He escapes by
virtue of his barbaric made helmet and his ability to be noiseless
while wearing chain mail.
Bambi
also deals with encroaching imperialism. This time instead of
Picts (or Indians) the animals are the victims. Both REH and
Salten recognize that the civilized humans are not going to go
away. Civilization is inevitable in both stories. Despite
the famous tag-line, Conan clearly sides with the forces of
colonization. REH’s musing on barbarism being the natural state
of mankind is more pessimistic than laudatory. A recognition that
civilizations grow decadent and collapse more so than a luddite/anarchistic call to get back to our roots. There is a love
of a natural state of living though. But REH and Conan would be
bored from sustaining a living from the land. Civilization is
unnatural; because of man’s primitive emotions. REH would not be
surprised at the tribal killings that occur when unnaturally
(imposed by an imperial government) created states like Yugoslavia
and Rwanda turn to genocide and bloody civil war. This is a result
of civilization, not barbarism. Barbarians would have never
attempted to live in harmony. A long ago blood feud would have
decided borders in the past.
There
is a contradictory side to Conan. Conan is physically more
powerful, more canny, more superstitious (this is a plus, in a
world where magic is real) than the civilized people he
encounters; but he is also at home in the civilized world. Conan
does not long for a return to his tribe. He enjoys the fruits of
civilization.
The
Picts, as antagonists, are more like a force of nature than flesh
and blood people. They are like a tornado or hurricane that can
not be stopped by any one man. They have the aid of nature in that
the wild animals obey them. The domesticated dog is immune to the
memory of Jebbel-Sag by virtue of being civilized, a product of
civilized man’s hand. The meaner creatures: snakes, tigers, and
swamp beasts obey; natural allies of the primitive Picts.
Bambi
is not the “children’s novel” that you might think. Disney,
like Milius and KEG, dumbed downed their source material
considerably. Back in the 1900’s, naturalistic novels like Bambi
and The Bear (excellent movie adaptation) were popular among
adults.
Bambi
starts life as a scared little deer and grows to impressive
Stag-hood. The animals’ encounters with each other and man form
some of the best dialog of the book. Salten’s view has Bambi
completely innocent. Happy about learning, but fearful when he
sees his first death. He sees a ferret kill a mouse and devour it.
Bambi is concerned that deer also kill and eat mice. Bambi is
relieved that deer do not kill.
We
know little about Conan’s childhood. We do know that Cimmerians
came of age very early. Conan’s name was spoke around the
campfires when he was 15. Conan gets his first taste of battle at
Venarium. Repelling Aquilonian invaders back from the Cimmerian
border. Conan is now on the Aquilonian’s side, repelling the
invading Picts. Cimmeria was full of harshness. The name suggests
darkness. Conan was undoubtedly happy to leave such a grim life.
Bambi
learns of the forest’s danger. His mother explains that only
evening to early morning are safe times for deer to be about. The
daylight is for sleeping. Bambi accepts this wisdom. Bambi
interacts with the other deer and befriends Gobo and Faline. Gobo
is the delicate type. Fearful and sickly. Faline is a pretty young
fawn who Bambi grows to love. Bambi’s father is not a part of
his adolescence. Raising the young is purely female work. Bambi’s
first glimpse of man fills him with dread: Bambi stared at the
creature. It stood remarkably erect. It was extremely thin and had
a pale face. “Did you see Him?” asked [his] mother softly. “That
was He,” said the mother. And they both shuddered.
Bambi
grows older. His mother leaves him by himself. He cries. An old
stag chastises him. “Can’t you stay by yourself?” Bambi is
ashamed. He realizes he is growing up. Man is becoming a more
intrusive force in Bambi’s life. All of the animals are fearful
and hateful of man. Gobo and Marena (another fawn) are more
hopeful: Marena spoke, “They say that sometime He’ll come to
live with us and be as gentle as we are.” [...]
old Netta replied hotly; “Friends with Him! He’s murdered us
ever since we can remember, every one of us. He’s given us no
peace, but has killed us wherever we showed our heads. And now we’re
going to be friends with Him. What nonsense!” Marena looked at
all of them out of her big, calm, shining eyes. “Love is no
nonsense, it has to come.”
To
prove Marena wrong, He invades. The animals run from the thunder
He wields. Gobo and Bambi’s mother are missing. Bambi never sees
his mother again.
REH
has a different view. He postulates an earlier past where animals
remember Jhebbal Sag. “Once all living things worshipped him.
That was long ago, when beasts and men spoke one language. Men
have forgotten him.” It seems that only the carnivores are of
service to Jhebbal Sag. REH seems to be implying that big
fierce animals are natural antagonists to civilization. But in a
slightly contradictory note, big fierce BUT domesticated animals,
like Slasher, earn REH and Conan’s respect.
Gobo
returns to the forest. He is wearing a halter: “It’s his
halter and it’s the greatest honor to wear His halter, it’s
...” He grew confused and stammered. The old stag looked at Gobo
for a long time, piercing and sadly. “You poor thing!”
Bambi
felt more than understood the correctness of the assessment. Man
invades the forest again. Gobo wishes to be with his old friend.
He is shot dead. Salten’s view is that domestication does harm
to animals.
Bambi
witnesses an encounter between domesticated dogs and a fox: “the
fox went on, “You turncoat, you renegade.” The dog stared, “Everything
belongs to Him, just as I do. I worship Him, I serve Him.”
The
dog was tired of philosophy. He snaps his jaws around the fox’s
throat.
Conan
eventually prevails and he and Balthus rescue the bulk of the
settlers. Conan confronts Jebbah-Sag and kills him. Also killing
Zogar Sag in the process. The borderer comments about barbarism
seem to be a reaction to the terrible slaughter he has seen and an
admiration of Conan’s ability to persevere. The borderer will
not give up trying to colonize the land but he has a pessimistic
view of a long-term peace.
Near
the end of the book, Bambi sees a dead poacher. Bambi realizes
that He is not all powerful. Bambi was
inspired, and said trembling: “There is Another who is over us
all, over us and over Him.” Bambi’s
life will be full of hardship but he is hopeful he can prevail and
has learned a theology of sorts.
Both
authors put forth a view of nature. Both authors told a good
story. But REH is the pessimist. He admires the barbarian’s
primitive nature but is aware that civilization is only a coat
that is worn to protect against the elements. Easily ripped when
the elements are too sharp and forceful. REH’s view is slightly
nostalgic for a barbaric past. Nostalgia can be a form of
depression.
Salten
is hopeful of a future when mankind will live in harmony with
nature. Salten is more like the modern environmentalist who
unrealistically thinks limits can be placed on civilization’s
growth and influence.
Gary
appreciates receiving feedback on all his articles. You can
send him email here.
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