The characters in Wallace Stegner's "Wolf Willow" embody the harsh realities of frontier life in America. They exhibit a raw and unrefined strength, developed through the demands of survival. These men lived with a fierce independence and an unrestrained approach to life. Their experiences on the frontier required resilience and a willingness to act decisively, often involving the taking of life, whether for sustenance or self-defense.

This quote emphasizes the duality of their existence; while they thrived in the wilderness, such a lifestyle required a moral complexity where violence was sometimes essential. The men celebrated in the narrative are portrayed as rugged adventurers, whose freedom came with both physical and ethical challenges. Their lives reflect a harsh reality that critiques notions of civility when survival is at stake. Stegner's exploration of these virtues reveals the intricate balance between independence and the inherent brutality of such an existence.