Social Criticism

The societal aspects of Bearskin seem consistent with hierarchal patterns which exist in society today. In the story, money is the great equalizer in terms of social status. After the war is over, Bearskin is without a job or money. Although his appearance is normal, nobody cares for him (including his brothers) because his only skills are that of a soldier. Luckily, Bearskin is saved from starvation when the devil issues his challange to Bearskin that he must live for seven years without washing or combing, all the while traveling with a bearskin on his back. Whenever he reaches into his pocket, Bearskin pulls out money or anything else for which he wishes. This magic pocket allows him to survive in society. Even though he soon looks like a monster, Bearskin always is able to find lodging with his abundance of money. When he generously helps an old man in a barn, he is allowed to marry the youngest daughter. He leaves her to finish his seven year sentence, and when the time comes Bearskin makes the devil remove the bearskin, and wash and clean him. When Bearskin returns to his wife's town, he is thought to be a high ranking officer due to his appearance.
As stated before, in this story money is the great equalizer in terms of social status. At the beginning of the tale we see Bearskin struggling to survive. Although his appearance is normal, he is a social outcast because he is poor and has no labor skills other than those he learned during the war. Once Bearskin wears his magic cloak, he manages to fit into society just fine due to his money. Although many innkeepers are repulsed by his appearance, they always offer him lodging since he has the money to pay for it. At this point Bearskin has not changed as a person. He still has no labor skills of any worth to anybody. The one thing that has changed is his appearance, but even his bear-like resemblence fails to threaten his survival. At the end of the tale we see all the townspeople awed by the appearance of a clean-shaven Bearskin with his four white horses and a grand carraige. Now Bearskin looks "normal" in his appearance and shows off his wealth, and as a result everybody who sees him takes him as "distinguished" member of society. Bearskin is a tale which illustrates the fact that money dominates social status in the world. The ultimate combination is a wealthy appearance to go along with a fat pocketbook. Once this status is attained, a person is thought of as a "distinguished" member of society's elite. Even if some people may be more handsome, and others may be better educated, and still others may possess better skills necessary to improve society, Bearskin shows us that money can overcome all these factors in the eyes of hierarchal society.