I Will Fight No More Forever

Age figures into Chief Joseph’s speech as a motif relating to both the wisdom of elders and the inexperience of youth. In saying “[t]he old men all are dead,” Chief Joseph refers not simply to the loss of life but in a wider sense to the loss of wisdom and the necessary guidance of these elders in council (Line 3). The loss of their wisdom directly contributes to the burden Joseph feels as a leader. Conversely, in stating that “[i]t is the young men who say yes or no” (Line 4), he implies that without the wisdom of the elders, the young and inexperienced men such as himself are now in charge. He and the other young leaders are left to decide whether to surrender or, like Looking Glass and others, to try to escape. The implication is that, though the burden has fallen on the young to lead, these youth, Chief Joseph included, might make unwise choices because of their inexperience. “Young men” might also refer directly to the young warriors, as he says, “He who led the young men is dead,” referring to his brother Ollokat (Line 4), a war leader who died in the battle.