When the Legends Die In the book When the Legends Die by Hal Borland,Tom is influenced by many people.As his settings change, new people influence him to change his personality.The three main influences of Tom are his mother Bessie, Red Dillon and Mary Redmond. His biggest influence out of everyone would be his mother Bessie.She teaches Tom about the old ways, how to fish, chant and weave baskets.Basically she taught him everything he knows.As well as teaching Tom all these things she taught him to be self sufficient. Even though she had 13 years with her son, she gave him a belief system that would com