The Last American Man

Gilbert believes that Eustace is the last American man because he lives in the way that traditionally is defined as the true role of American men. He lives in the wild, carving his way to what he wants through strength, self-sufficiency and guile. In the past, that's what defined an American man- when he went out west and built a log house and ate deer and fought off bandits. Literally, men don't do that anymore. Figuratively, some still do- their strength is in maybe athletics, their self-sufficiency isn't literal but motivational or financial (they rely on themselves to find their way in life and pay for it) and their intelligence is in a college degree or a career skill. But not everyone does this and not everyone thinks of it as similar to the pioneer man.