I don't think the story, Skunk Dreams by Louise Erdrich, is confusing if we consider her collection of stories mimicking the major theme involving obstacles and dreams. When Erdrich was young, she had no obstacles and was able to "freely" move about, settling in the football field like how the skunk moved about. She continued that life style while teaching poetry and living in those cheap motels.
As she mentioned, "Without obstacles, the notion of development is inconceivable. There would be nothing to master." That lifestyle would nonetheless cause her to turn inward and ultimately settle in New Hampshire. The new scenery became obstacles to the vast open skies she was used to while in North Dakota. Hence, she was faced with the desire to get away and overcome the obstacles of the scenery.
Then she ultimately found peace and calm in the forest with the giant white pine. When they put up the whimsy fence, there was again a physical obstacle. This lead to the desire to overcome the fence, causing her to consider methods to overcome the fence. Eventually, she did manage enter the forest and wander the forest freely, like the skunk.
She ended the story with how she wanted to be the skunk--able to move freely without witnessing obstacles. Ultimately, it wasn't until she overcame the obstacles that she began behaving like a skunk.
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