The anthropologist is an unnamed character from Mero Corn’s childhood; the old man once instructed the anthropologist to show Mero some hillside paintings. The anthropologist discussed various paintings of animals with Mero before pointing out how one set of images depicted female genitalia. In his innocence, Mero initially believed the drawings depicted horse-related symbols, continuing the thematic connection between sexuality and equine imagery. This conversation with the anthropologist provides insight into Mero’s burgeoning sexuality, a key motivation for his eventual departure from the ranch.
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The Anthropologist Character Timeline in The Half-Skinned Steer
The timeline below shows where the character The Anthropologist appears in The Half-Skinned Steer. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
The Half-Skinned Steer
...his sexual awakening as a young man. In Mero’s youth, his old man instructed an anthropologist to take Mero to see some wall drawings. The anthropologist asked Mero if he knew...
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