In "The Earth Is Weeping," Peter Cozzens explores the complexity of the Indian Wars in the American West, delving into the intricacies of human emotion and understanding of Indigenous perspectives. The narrative highlights how interactions between Native Americans and settlers often involved misunderstandings and a lack of transparent communication, reflecting a deep-seated confusion about each other's motivations and realities.

Cozzens describes a character with a gaze that is "peculiar and difficult to gauge," symbolizing the struggle to truly know and empathize with others. The phrase "not open and transparent windows to his soul" underlines the barriers people face in connecting with one another, emphasizing the profound challenges in comprehending different experiences and histories in a time of conflict.