Cults

The cult that Hawk forms in "The Mother" is a symbol for how badly people want to rewrite the circumstances of their lives when they do not like the places they come from or the things they do. It is heavily implied that a big part of the reason Hawk goes on to believe himself to be a savior figure of sorts is because of his background with foster families and being taken away from his mother when he was only 11. Ms. Hawkins, his mother, worries about what would happen if he were to learn that she became a prostitute to support him.

The cutting horse

The titular cutting horse in "Cutting Horse" is a symbol of Ridley's past and the life he longs to have away from his wife and white society in general. Ridley grew up as a ranch hand on a farm in...