The Texas Bull Symbol Analysis

Independent and tough as nails, the Texas bull represents the kind of character it takes to survive the epic work of being a cowboy and a frontier settler during the era of American expansion. Unlike most of the herd, which comes across the border from Mexico, this bull is identified as belonging to Texas—much like former Texas Rangers Woodrow Call and Augustus McCrae. In fact, both of these men also share the bull’s independence and stubbornness. Moreover, the Texas bull joins the drive of its own free will, and although most of the cowhands fear and dislike it—it comes too close to goring many of them—it nevertheless symbolizes them, too, especially those who survive until the company reaches Montana. Getting there requires strength, bravery, and quite a bit of luck, which are all on display when the Texas bull singlehandedly takes on a Montana grizzly bear. Notably, the bull survives the attack but doesn’t exactly win. The cowboy onlookers judge the fight a draw as both animals are wounded but each lives to fight another day. In this way, the bull also reminds readers how much it costs to survive on the frontier.