Symbolism

might the entire film, with all its episodic parts, be a discussion on human folly? the pointlessness of our endeavors? even an existential or near-nihilist outlook?

after all, even the chief's attempts to assume his final resting position doesn't work - it's not as if his cultural knowledge is glorified above the others - he too is sort of lampooned and buffooned - it's just that his group has been expoited and overrun by a dominant group in this situation.

anyone who's got it all 'figured out' in the film seems to be shown up with a reversal or a great fall. the examples you mention fit here.

our lone 'survivor' who holds true to his message throughout the film is the character played by martin balsam - who doesn't have any message at all - he's just exploiting everyone else with snake oil. he knows everything's a sham, and he is slowly being carved apart for it, but he doesn't uphold a greater truth or ideology - he just says basically 'that's the way it goes' and rolls on. he doesn't try to staple any system onto things. he's not superimposing a formulation of thought and deed created with finite human reason onto the world - he's just shuffling through it, conning folks out of change and dealing with their wrath as it arrives - in this sense, he reminds me very much of the 'fools' in mark twain's huck finn stories. in a couple of supposedly hilarious episodes, a pair of con men raft with huck and jim for a bit and get into all sorts of trouble for their ploys - but their sheer merriment and detachment from everything renders them endearing after all, while anyone who wags a finger or extols a credo is played for an idiot.