Character Analysis

            The legend of Bigfoot is a popular and well-known topic. The mythical creature has intrigued many with tales of its aggressive behavior and large stature. Harrowing stories of rock throwing and destruction captivate audiences. The accounts of Bigfoot’s height add another alluring factor to this myth. We must take what we know from personal experiences and historical accounts to unravel the mystery that is Bigfoot.
           When Bigfoot feels threatened, they will become aggressive.  Dr. Jeffrey Meldrum writes about his personal experience in his book Sasquatch: Legend Meets Science, “We paused there for a respite and some refreshment. As I slung my pack off, a softball-sized rock sailed onto the trail a mere few feet away.” he recounts, “There was no high point nearby from which the rainstorm might have dislodged a rock. Nor did it simply roll onto the trail from uphill. They had been airborne; it had been lobbed,” (Meldrum 31). He insists this was no human or bear, but a Bigfoot. 
            Similarly, Loren Coleman, world-renowned cryptozoologist, shares several accounts in his book, Bigfoot: The True Story of Apes in America: “In August of a previous year, during a fishing trip and other visits, several Bay Area-based Bigfooters, including Sharon Gorden, Richard Foster, Ben E. Foster Jr., and Archie Buckley, had multiple Bigfoot sightings there including seeing a Bigfoot throw a rock, one prowling around a campfire, another flipping a car aerial, some communicating by gesture, and another being attracted nearby,” (Coleman 217). These aggressive behaviors command respect and warrant caution. When considering the scale of the creature, Bigfoot’s actions become even more unsettling.
            Bigfoot is a large mythical animal known for its towering height. Dr. Meldrum referenced research conducted by Dr. Ed Fusch on Native Americans' understanding of wildmen, and the Natives related this story: “Sighted at 150 yards distant, the figure was at first taken to be a dark bear standing about eight or nine feet tall, but it turned, walked upright to the river, knelt on his knees with his hands in the water, and put his face in the water for a moment before standing upright again,” (Meldrum 86). Loren Coleman, world-renowned cryptozoologist, discusses the personal experience of an Idaho woman, Linda Boydson, “Boydson claims she and her son came within inches of running over an unusually slender Bigfoot. Rounding a corner on the freeway at night, Boydson saw a ‘very, very skinny, nine-foot-tall, hairy man’ standing in the slow lane,”(Coleman 11). These are just two of many alleged sightings that share the same description of an abnormally large creature we have named Bigfoot.
            After looking at these accounts, it is no wonder why so many people are fascinated with Bigfoot. A creature with such intimidating behavior and tall stature is bound to challenge our curiosity and capture our interest. Taking what we know about Bigfoot’s characteristics, let us delve deeper and discover if there is any truth behind this myth.