Internal conflicts: dealing with the experiences of childhood External conflicts: dealing with the treatment of the aged Through the character “Dancing Bear” the author seeks to complain about the lack of humane care for the aged. In his final moments, Dieter Bethge recalls memories of his childhood: first, the slaughter of a bear by his father, and second the humiliating treatment of a bear by a traveling show. http://books.google.com/books?id=t97EaUd… (read more p.