Mentorship: From Childhood to the Man
Louise Erdrich explores the inner conflicts of an Indian tribe in her novel Tracks. By the end of the novel, the tribes’ accord is broken by the lure of the white man’s money and land reform. The divisions among the tribe are epitomized by the physical separation of the Chippewa people into different colors that correspond to their different land allotments. However, one chapter in particular contrasts with the tribe’s tendency towards discord. Chapter 5, in which Nanapush and Eli overcome their differences and unite in an attempt to avoid starvation lends hope to the ominous series of events throughout Tracks which show conflict developing from unity. The great snow storm they experience together not
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I think that the interpretation here is very strong because Nanapush is going through his own personal struggles from within that he now has a decision to make. Does he write Eli off and deal with his own issues or does he put his own issues aside and deal with Eli? Instead of the typical either or, he incorporated the two issues. He addressed the issue of land ownership and illiteracy amongst the people of the tribe to Eli, as well as helping him the concept that Fleur wasn’t going to stop living her life because he wasn’t around in her life anymore either.
But Eli still didn’t bounce back to reality just yet, there were still more lessons to be learned. For instance, coming over to another man’s house as a visitor and eating up all of his food. The book records that 6 days later that they were without food. And Nanapush new that first in order to survive, one must have nutritional food. Nanapush wasn’t going to sit there and starve to death because of one man agony. He believed it was time for Eli to face his adversities head on, and deal with consequences at they followed. This is a wonderful part in the story because we see that Nanapush is fed up.
“On the seventh day I handed him his gun. He looked at it in surprise, but finally went north.” (P.100-101)
Within this moment, Eli realized that wallowing in agony, pity, and shame wouldn’t put food on the table. It wasn’t going to solve any of his problems. And by recognizing this he was able to clear his
An emphasis on family is one of the central facets of Native American culture. There is a sense of community between Native American. Louise Erdrich, a Chippewa Indian herself, writes a gripping bildungsroman about a thirteen year old boy named Joe who experiences all forms of family on the Native American Reserve where he lives. He learns to deal with the challenges of a blood family, witnesses toxic family relationships, and experiences a family-like love from the members of the community. In her book, The Round House, Louise Erdrich depicts three definitions of the word family and shows how these relationships affect Joe’s development into an adult.
In "The Red Convertible," by Louise Erdrich, the red convertible symbolizes the brothers relationship at different stages through the story. In the story Erdrich uses specific actions of the brothers to show change in their relationship, which corresponds with the red convertible. Erdrich uses scenes involving the red convertible to show different stages of the brothers relationships. The story begins with a road trip representing the boys closeness, then precedes onto Lyman beating up the red convertible symbolizing the brothers separation. Erdrich then continues the story with Henry giving the red convertible to Lyman representing their reunion. The story finishes when Lyman runs the red
Eli survived because he had the knowledge on how to survive. Eli knew that escaping wasn’t an option, if he tried he would be killed. Eli also focused on bread and soup because he knows that he has to eat.
In the preface while talking about his survival, Elie narrates, " I don't know how I survived... I did nothing to save myself... If heaven could or would perform a miracle for me, why not for others more deserving than myself?" (vii – viii). In his Nobel Peace Prize Acceptance Speech when speaking out against silence, he says, "'And that is why I swore never to be silent whenever and wherever human beings endure suffering and humiliation'" (Wiesel 118).
The initiating event in the novel The Droughtlanders that got the entire story rolling is when Eli follows his mother and sees her talking to a Droughtlander, the very same people he was taught to hate and despise because of the sickness that they carry. When he sees his mother kiss the Droughtlander he is mortified that that his mother would go anywhere near the people that are considered worse than rats. This leads Eli to question his mother, then question his beliefs, and then follow in his mother’s footsteps to bring the keys down.
Lives for Native Americans on reservations have never quite been easy. There are many struggles that most outsiders are completely oblivious about. In her book The Roundhouse, Louise Erdrich brings those problems to light. She gives her readers a feel of what it is like to be Native American by illustrating the struggles through the life of Joe, a 13-year-old Native American boy living on a North Dakota reservation. This book explores an avenue of advocacy against social injustices. The most observable plight Joe suffers is figuring out how to deal with the injustice acted against his mother, which has caused strife within his entire family and within
As Elie gets used to his new life in such a hellish state, he realizes that the trusting and faithful child that he once had been had been taken away along with his family and all else that he had ever known. While so many others around him still implore the God of their past to bring them through their suffering, Wiesel reveals to the reader that although he still believes that there is a God, he no longer sees Him as a just and compassionate leader but a cruel and testing spectator.
People had to help each other to survive and keep themselves safe. Although it can sometimes be an every man for himself situation in the camps, an inmate saves Elie and his father when he says, “The man interrogating me was an inmate. I could not see his face, but his voice was weary and warm. He asked my age. ‘Fifteen’ ‘No, you’re eighteen’ ‘But I’m not’ I said. ‘I’m fifteen’ ‘Fool, listen to what I tell you…” (Wiesel 30). Certainly this may have come off as being rude, but this was a major help to Elie and his father. If they were to actually give up and tell their real jobs, this could have put them in the crematorium. The Nazis were looking for healthy, strong, and fit people. Since Ellie was young and his father was old at the time, they probably wouldn't have met the Nazis requirements. Likewise, another moment of hope was when Ellie shared his soup with his sick father and states “Did you eat?’ ‘No. They wouldn't give us anything…’ I gave him what was left of my soup.” (Wiesel 107). Even though Elie is hungry too, he still managed to give up half of his soup. His father is on the verge of death and people are telling him to stop caring for his father, but he still continues to share his meals with him. Provided that, Elie has created a much bigger connection with his father rather than just the father and son role. In the end, the result of inhumanity can cause people to change for the better and help people a lot
“Dozens of starving men fought desperately over a few crumbs.”pg 100. Being starved can change a person. It plays with your mind. Elie knows what it feels like to be starved, but he also sees starvation all around him. A child will kill his own father for a small piece of bread. A best friend will become an enemy. Elie starves himself to feed his father. In the camps they will eat anything. The prisoners would eat off the ground. In the cages, men would fight over the smallest amount of food that people would throw in. In one camp the portions would consist of pigs feets for lunch,
"Sometimes he smiled, and it was good to see; but when he straightened himself up like a liberty-pole, and the lightning begun to flicker out from under his eyebrows, you wanted to climb a tree first, and find out what the matter was afterwards" (pg. 159).
In Louise Erdrich’s “Tracks';, the readers discovers by the second chapter that there are two narrators, Nanapush and Pauline Puyat. This method of having two narrators telling their stories alternately could be at first confusing, especially if the readers hasn’t been briefed about it or hasn’t read a synopsis of it. Traditionally, there is one narrator in the story, but Erdrich does an effective and spectacular job in combining Nanapush and Pauline’s stories. It is so well written that one might question as he or she reads who is the principal character in this story? Being that there are two narrators, is it Nanapush, the first narrator, him being a participant in the story, who tells his story in the
Nanapush talks about the conditions of his Native American tribe in North Dakota. He is considered an elder although he is only fifty years old. Nanapush is talking to someone he calls Granddaughter about how he saves her mother, Fleur Pillager. Fleur recuperates and bonds with Nanapush over their dead families. When the weather permits, Fleur and Nanapush bury the dead Pillagers. Nanapush makes the clan markers, which is the symbol of a bear. Back at Nanapush's place, Nanapush and Fleur suffer from their losses. The new priest, Father Damian, interrupts them. He says that Fleur's cousin Moses has been found alive in the woods. Fleur and Nanapush are startled by his visit, but they are hospitable to their
In Louise Erdrich’s Famous work of poetry, “Indian Boarding School: The Runaways”, shows how the context of the work and the author play major roles in understanding the poem from different aspects and angles to see between the lines of what we really call life. The Author Louise Erdrich is known for being one of the most significant writers of the second wave of the Native American Renaissance. She is a member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians and her writing on Native American literature is seen throughout the world. Through word decision, repetition, and symbolism bringing out her incredibly fierce tones, the author recalls the hurt and enduring impacts of Native American children being forced to attend Indian boarding schools. These schools emerged of a post-Civil War America in an effort to educate and also “civilize” the American Indian people.
Religion can provide comfort and solace to those who need, but it becomes easy to abuse that asset to one’s personal gain. Tracks by Louise Erdrich is a book that covers the lives of a small group of Native American peoples living on a government reservation. The core group is Nanapush, Fleur Pillager, Margaret Kashpaw, Eli Kashpaw, Lulu Pillager, and Pauline Puyat. Pauline is a young mixed race girl who works with Fleur at Argus and visits a lot once Fleur moves back to Matchimanito. Pauline has a daughter that she does not want and gives away once she is born. To move on Pauline moves into a covenant and turns to Christ who “comes” to her to provide advice at night and Pauline continues on her life on behalf of him.The relationship Pauline has with higher powers is undeniable, however, she uses her faith as a tool to justify her actions and reach her aspirations.
It was a foggy night in Cincinnati, Eli lays in his bed wide awake pondering in his thoughts. In his head he contemplates on what the true meaning of life. Is it to be happy? Is it to give back and help others? Is it to become wealthy? What is life? Why do I exist? Eli continues to become consumed by his thoughts until he falls into a deep sleep. Not long after falling asleep Eli’s thoughts and imagination form together to become one. As Eli seems to be dreaming in peace a dark chapter unfolds, throwing Eli into the most eerie and