Can Such Things Be? · Chapter
A Man with Two Lives explained
David William Duck recounts his harrowing experience as a soldier in 1866, where he was trapped by Sioux Indians in a canyon, fought for three days, and later discovered that his body had been found and buried two months prior by a fellow s
What happens
David William Duck recounts his harrowing experience as a soldier in 1866, where he was trapped by Sioux Indians in a canyon, fought for three days, and later discovered that his body had been found and buried two months prior by a fellow soldier, leading to a crisis of identity and accusations of imposture.
Themes in this chapter
Identity and Self
Duck's encounter with his own buried body and the sergeant's disbelief create a profound crisis of identity, questioning who he truly is.
Death and the Supernatural
The discovery of Duck's own corpse and the implication of his survival beyond death blur the line between life and the supernatural.
Isolation and Terror
Duck's two-day siege in a canyon, alone and surrounded by hostile forces, evokes intense isolation and terror.
Characters to notice
- David William Duck
The narrator and protagonist, a private soldier who survives a deadly siege only to find his own body buried.
- William Briscoe
A sergeant who claims to have buried Duck's body two months before Duck's arrival at Fort C. F. Smith.
Key passages
“I was trying to make my way with important dispatches to Fort C. F. Smith, on the Big Horn.”
Duck was on a mission to deliver crucial messages to Fort C. F. Smith.
Sets the context for his dangerous journey.
“He showed me the clothing, which I resolutely put on; the letters, which I put into my pocket.”
Briscoe presented Duck's own clothing and letters, which Duck accepted without hesitation.
Highlights the uncanny acceptance of his own belongings.
“Twice I have been back, seeking for that fateful spot in the hills, but unable to find it.”
Duck has returned twice to find the canyon where he fought, but it remains elusive.
Emphasizes the mysterious and possibly supernatural nature of the location.