Inherent in words, some believe, is the power of life and death. In many cultures, stories are revered as having great power both to create and destroy. According to Christian mythology, the world was spoken into existence. "God said..." and then it was. The idea that "In the beginning was the word" transcends the confines of Christianity to many world religions and philosophies. In Native American mythology, words have similar power when brought together in story, and violating the sacredness of stories was believed to result in terrible, tragic consequences as indicated by the anecdote of anthropologist Barre Toelken in the article "'Was Jesus an Indian?' Fighting Stories with Stories in Sherman Alexie's Indian Killer." After reading this article, examine the act of storytelling in the novel. How do the characters use stories? What do the stories accomplish? In what ways do stories have the power to create and destroy?
Finally, examine the ways in which stories are used in the world outside the novel. The entire scope of human existence is encapsulated by and preserved through stories. Who we are in the world is determined by the stories we tell about ourselves and the stories others tell about us. In what ways do stories exert power in the world? In what ways do they exert power over people and events? Do stories have the power to create and destroy? Can they determine the details of our everyday lives? Consider these questions as they affect the world and our individual human lives.
In the novel Indian Killer, the characters all have their own stories and share them with each other as well as with the readers. The characters use stories mainly as flashbacks to help the audience understand what is going on in that particular scene. The stories help provide more detail about the characters and give us a sense of what they are thinking and feeling.
ReplyDeleteAn example would be when Truck Schultz is outside of his radio studio building smoking a cigarette when he realizes that the door is locked and he has to walk all the way around the building to get to the front door. There was very heavy fog surrounding him which made him think of his father, which leads us into a story of “hunting weather”. In the story Truck is telling us, we learn that as a young boy he couldn’t kill a deer with his father. His father always told him “next time” when he couldn’t pull the trigger. It fits so well in this scene of Truck walking alone in the fog because he is a man who is all big talk and no walk. Here Truck is feeling panicked and claustrophobic. Panicked because he knows if there was someone in that alley with him he wouldn’t be able to do a thing, he can’t even hunt.
Stories in this novel have the power to create and destroy a multitude of things. They can create methods of killing, reasons to harm, sympathy for a character and others. These same stories that create can also destroy. Such things like lives, families, personal mental health and a race name.
In the scene where Reggie is being drilled for history knowledge of whites and Indians by his father Bird, we learn how Reggie’s rage was created and how he began to destroy others the same way he was. Bird would ask Reggie a question and if he got it wrong he would get punched or Bird would say “No, you idiot” and “dirty Indian”. Reading this story of Reggie’s childhood, we can understand where this idea to ask questions and beat the person if they answered incorrectly came from. The readers see Reggie’s confusion of his race and hatred of his own races. When it comes to the scene of Reggie putting his anger to the test, we find an innocent hitch hiker sleeping in a tent who ends up in the hospital. Reggie starts asking this young man, Robert Harris, a series of questions that he wouldn’t know the answer to. So naturally, like his father created him to do, he beat Harris and blinded the man. Reggie’s father’s creation led to the destruction of an innocent young man.
In the world outside of novels, telling stories is a past time and everyone takes part in it. Stories are used at bedtimes, sleepovers, holidays, and gatherings of all kinds. Stories can exert power in the world by telling other people how to live and how their ancestors lived. An example would be my mom telling me how far she had to walk everyday to get to and from school. Her telling me this she expects some authority and power because I have much easier than she did. Another example could be a middle aged, very wealthy man, sitting around with friends telling a story about how he saved someone’s life doing whatever he did. Here this character, this protagonist hero, is expecting his peers to look up to him for being so brave. Wanting to soak up his glory and power they will now show him.
Stories in everyday life can also create and destroy things. Stories can create groups/clubs of people, books and movies, rumors etc.. But stories can also be very destructive. Friendships can end over a story, people could be harmed, arrested (if they story listeners took a story literal and robbed a bank when someone told them that they could get away with it like so and so did in Kentucky) and people’s beliefs of their own religions and ancestry.
Stories I believe can determine the details of everyday lives, but to a certain point. Stories can begin with little Sally waking up and taking a shower. Well that is an everyday event that people in a story are going to par take in just as in real life. Not everyone is going to wake up to a monkey jumping on their bed though. However, stories more relate to everyday life rather than determine it. Some people can let stories determine their lives and live by that particular story. Like a young child is being told that if he walked on a crack he would break his mamma’s back, so for the rest of his life he avoids all cracks. That story determined how he was going to walk for the rest of his life.
DeleteJohn smith uses stories as a way to create his back ground. Since he only knows a little bit about where he came from before he was a adopted, he uses stories to create a piece of mind for himself. Truck Schultz uses the power of story to excite his listeners. He reports each Indian Killer attack to his listeners to share in his racial discrimination. Dr. Mather uses the stories he has his classes read as a way to press upon them his view of what Indian culture is like. Marie describes his teaching of these stories as killing Indian books. By teaching these books, Dr. Mather has the power to take away the Indians voices. Jack Wilson uses the stories he publishes as a way to relate to the Indians he so wants to be. Bird uses his stories of the hostile Indians as an attempt to make his son into the person he wants him to be. Bird uses these stories as a way to destroy Reggie's good feelings of being an Indian, in hopes that his son will "act more white". Stories are used in our society to create many things. As children, most people are told fair tales. These stories create the view of gender roles and right verses wrong. Stories are also used today to inspire hope. Families pass down stories from generation to generation. Hearing these stories of great accomplishment their ancestors have achieved creates inspiration for the future generations. Religions have stories that exert power over people. In most religions, there are a set of rules the people are to follow. There are stories told by people of those religions that tell what will happen to the people if they do not follow those set of rules. These stories create a sense of fear in those people that keep them following those rules. I think stories have the power to create and destroy in certain ways. They have the power to create and destroy hope, fear, desire, love and ambition in people. I believe that stories do have the power to determine the details of our everyday lives. When people hear the stories of their heritage or where they came from that depicts the way they are going to act. I think people hear those stories and conform to the way they are expected to act. I agree with Nicole Pugh who stated that some people can let stories determine their lives and live by that particular story. When people hear stories of where they came from, they can either let those stories create who they are going to be or they can go against the grain and be who they want to be.
ReplyDeleteIndian Killer uses the power of stories, to give detail and background information to the characters. Each character has a unique background and the novel uses stories as a bridge to reveal the complexity and emotions the characters are feeling. These stories also help the reader understand the scene and the dynamics of the characters as the plot progresses.
ReplyDeleteOne example of using stories to provide details of characters in Indian Killer is David Rogers and his encounter with the Native Americans trying to steal camas root from his family’s property. David provides insight not only about himself, but as well as his brother and father. David’s story expresses the relationship between his family members. This story also explains why David took Dr. Mather’s literature class and why his brother Aaron reacts the way he does later in the novel after David has been kidnapped.
I believe that stories do have the power to create and destroy. Although story telling is a simple form of literature, it has the power to achieve both sides. The power of stories has to have a balance of power, which Nicole Pugh provided an exceptionally descriptive example in Indian Killer. Reggie Polatkin’s entire life is proof of the idea of creation and destruction. Stories, like nature must have a balance of power, both of which have a strong influence in the Native American culture.
Stories in reality exert power because these stories contain cultural history and shape the individuals within a community by bringing them together. It provides a sense of identity and bonds people by the oldest form of literature. These stories provide insightful knowledge, describing life according to your ancestors and their experiences. Stories also exert power over people and events because although the “victors write history”, these tales hold the truth about what happened. Telling stories also influences people to live by morals of high standing, which have been taught since an early age.
Even stories in modern times have the power to create or destroy. Examples of this idea are present because with stories, bonds are formed and ideas are passed on. However, with every good thing, there must be a bad thing. Stories can destroy families and emotional bonds just because there is an evil presence, such as criminal behavior.
Although stories provide an insight to characteristics to humanity and the development of people, however they cannot provide all the details to everyday life. Stories encourage healthy growth in morals, but people have the ultimate decision to become who they really are.
I like how you mentioned families being torn apart by storytelling. I have seen it numerous times, where one person will say one thing about someone else and vice versa. In the end, the outcome is a split in the family like you mentioned. Your point on how stories an encourage growth in morals is very true as well. The old fairy tales are a great example of those stories that teach morals to the younger generation. Also, a family may use stories to tell their family history to each new generation, like how the Native Americans do in the novel.
DeleteCJ touched on what I was thinking as well. The power of stories in families gives proof. "Although stories provide an insight to characteristics to humanity and the development of people, however they cannot provide all the details to everyday life." This quote from your web log gave me something to think about. And, I believe you are correct about morals and decision eventually coming to the individual. I also believe in the Bell Curve. It seems to apply to just about everything. I strongly believe in the bell curve.
DeleteIn every novel I have read, I get introduced to a character by their personal background. The characters in Indian Killer use this same tactic but rather than a brief background we get to know their identity by storytelling. The article said that “Uncritically accepting any story as reality rather than as a comment on reality can be deadly”. I agree that storytelling can be a little bitter sweet. In one way it can influence people to reach for their dreams but in another way it can teach people habits that aren’t only harmful but false.
ReplyDeleteFor example Nicole commented about Reggie being drilled by his father. Because of the storytelling his father laid on him so harshly as he grew up, he ended up ruining an innocent mans life. This is a way that stories destroy.
On page 48 in Indian Killer, John is imaging what life would be like if he had grown up with his real family. He talks about how the family sits around and tells stories about old relatives and life a long time ago. He explains how some of them are sad but they invite humor in them so they are only “half sad.” “John knows that storytelling is a way of mourning the dead.” It seems that John is mourning a life that never happened here.
One popular way stories exert power in the world, over people and events is by rumors. Telephone is a game where kids learn why “storytelling” can be harmful. They sit in a circle and whisper a secret and by the time it gets to the last person it is totally different. This is an example of how stories can change as their told from person to person. There have been a rising issue with bullying in school and that has a lot to do with kids hearing false tales and repeating them. In the workplace, if someone over hears a “story” and tells it wrong throughout the office, that person could get fired. I do believe in some ways storytelling can create good ideas. People’s stories of achievements being spread around the world can influence an immense amount of people.
I really like the idea you bring up of storytelling being a way to mourn the dead as well as a method for John to mourn the life that was taken from him. I don't think he really knows how to deal with his adoption, so making up stories about what his life should really be like seems to be a way to help him cope. So, in this instance, storytelling is used as a way to comfort and reassure one's self.
DeleteThe book Indian Killer for sure uses the power of stories. Every chapter is an experience from a different person. Some of the stories are the present time, while some are in the past, and in John’s case some of his stories are imaginary. Whichever category they fall into they are critical to the story. I think that to hear a complete story you need to hear all the sides and viewpoints involved, not just one person. Their stories definitely create an atmosphere, and that’s the beauty of storytelling. On top of that if you hear multiple stories about the same event it kind of creates layers that you can see now. In Indian Killer you hear stories of the killer, as well as, stories of everyone’s reactions and so on. It’s like a 360 view of this racial tension presented in the book.
ReplyDeleteStories in the world can exert power by showing ones greatness. For example, if you’ve never meet someone before, but all you hear is about how they did this great thing, then you will come more to respecting them. It also forms opinions on certain races or types of people. If you look back at the history books and see what a certain country did, it’s very easy to use that to form opinions today about those same countries. Stories can create like a glory for a certain country. My favorite example of this is the 300 Spartans of ancient Greece. The story of what they did and how they fought still remains today and will continue to stay around because of the movie. The only thing is that stories do get twisted sometimes over the years as Alexis Wells explained with the telephone game analogy. So stories can be destroyed and stretched that way. Sometimes it’s hard to distinguish what’s a true story and what’s not, but stories are what human kind use to look into the past.
The novel Indian Killer has several significant stories to each character. These stories contain valuable information about the characteristics of the characters. From some of the stories we learn the motives behind the characters that make them who they are. For example, Aaron and David's past dealing with Indians who invaded their farm for materials. Although some the stories are told for helpful information, rather than trickery, they can destroy and create.
ReplyDeleteNot all stories told are helpful in Indian killer, some have the potential of destroying. For example, John in Indian Killer made up his own birth story at the beginning of the book. His birth story is plagued with violence and sorrow, as little John is taken away from his birth parents, and given to wealthy white people. This particular story that John created about his birth, has only accomplished John hate. John saw this story as an opportunity for the white man to take culture away from the Indians. Although none of this really happened, John's perception of his birth destroyed his belief's about white people. So, the stories created by the characters can destroy.
Although John's story was hurtful to himself, several other stories create some the motives behind characters. As an example, John's mother, Olivia Smith, told John several stories about Indians while he was growing up. She did not want him to lose his culture from being apart of a “white family”. So Olivia would find books in the library of any Indian tribe and begin reading to John. These stories about the Indians helped to create John's lost identity problem. If John did not feel a reason to ever to connect to his lost origins, he possibly would have been slightly normal. This is not the only example of a story creating a problem. Truck Schultz labels the Indian killer as an Indian because of the first murder. The first victim of the “Indian Killer” was a white man who was stabbed and scalped, the Indian killer also left two feather behind. Because of the several stories about Indian's scalping their victims, Schultz was certain that the Indian Killer was an Indian, although there was no proof about the Indian killer being Indian at all.
Stories in real life have huge potentials; they can spread misinterpreted facts and ruin lives. For example, the televised News that many people tune into everyday. Some news stations can be quick to label a suspect, or even take information without support and spread it quickly. These actions have the potential to mislead people and ruin a person's reputation. This happens periodically in the media, which is why information should always be studied before released to the public.
The news is notorious for giving false information. They all want to be the first to show something, the first team to bring the public a story. It is horrible. It is almost getting to the point of not being able to trust the media.
DeleteI wouldn't go as far as saying the news is notorious for giving false information. The information presented is true, just spun to insight certain emotional responses from the viewers. For example, taking things out of context is a news favorite. Something reporters are exceptionally good at is powerful rhetoric. Reporters will use specific language to enrage readers, though technically everything they said is not quite that terrible.
DeleteThe responsibility lies with the audience. We have to be aware of the spin doctors and read into what they have to say. Never take anything for face value and develop an informed opinion before Fox news tells you what to hate.
But I agree with you. Never trust the media.
Perhaps the killer is white, and using those commonly used stigmas about Indians as calling signs are in fact helping to 'kill' the Indian culture even further. Thought provoking. Great post.
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ReplyDeleteSherman Alexie develops the characters in “Indian Killer” with the use of flash backs and other storytelling. A Character reminiscing on past events, forms deeper connection with the audience and facilitates a stronger emotional attachment to readers that can identify with those characters. The stories told in character have the power to create bridges from the words on the page to the hearts and minds of the reader.
ReplyDeleteFor example, David Rogers, having experienced a dark moment in his past in relation to Native Americans, has driven him to reach out to Marie and express his support of her people. When David was a child, he was forced to wait above in a tree stand and shoot at a family of Natives, who were on his Father’s land, attempting to dig up camas roots. David fought to stop his father and brother, to leave the native family alone, and watched in horror as his brother took aim for the Indian man below. This moment in David’s life deeper develops his character and facilitates the desire from the reader for David to succeed in reaching out to Marie.
As in “Indian Killer,” stories in life have a similar effect. Getting to know a friend or a loved one on a more personal level, can only be achieved through sharing each other’s stories. However, the real world is much more vast and complex and requires an infinite source of experience to make progress possible. Humanity has only made it this far because of its need to carry the living narrative forward. The desire to be heard can only grow with passing of time. The art of storytelling is an ever evolving tool of communication and self-actualization.
I can romanticize the human story till the day I die, but there is a dark side to the tale as well. The power to control the minds of the many, by manipulating the words passed down from generation to generation is all too common throughout history. As stated in class, “History is written by the victor,” (Winston Churchill) and too many times has this erased a beautiful culture from the time line. When the people who control the media decide to eradicate a threat to their standard of living, a ripple can be felt throughout the human story for years to come.
I empathize with your closing. Very powerful and precise words. I like your style. A part of me hesitantly thinks about survival of the fittest. I am embarrassed by this. I vaguely say that it is all so brutal. Wouldn't you say, Old Sport? I just saw the Great Gastby, forgive my calling you that, Old Sport.
DeleteAlexie uses the power of storytelling to give the reader a background to the characters in the novel “Indian Killer”. He uses a unique way of assigning a chapter to a different character and then using that chapter to give more background on the said character. The characters also use the power of storytelling to promote their ideas to the masses.
ReplyDeleteTruck Schultz uses his ability of weaving a convincing story to pull the masses towards him and spread his ideas to them. Truck is a flat character that uses his radio show as a medium to broadcast his views on the killer to his listeners. With the fear of the killer on everyone’s mind in Seattle, Truck uses this fear to create mass hysteria among his white listeners.
Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering. Master Yoda
Every time Truck gets on the radio and talks about the Indian Killer, the fear of the white listeners increases. This fear eventually leads to anger. This anger builds to a point where it is no longer anger, but true hate. Once the hate disappears, the only thing that is left over is suffering. A prime example of this is Aaron Roger, Barry Church, and Sean Ward. They let their fear of the Indian Killer and of Indians turn into a burning anger. This anger leads these three men to brutally beat up Indians and almost kill them. Aaron’s anger fully manifest from fear to anger on pages 121-124. In these couple of pages, Aaron gets the news that his brother has gone missing at an Indian Reserve after visiting the casino. Aaron’s anger is fueled by revenge on those that hurt his brother. Aaron furthers his agenda of revenge by roping his roommates into his grand scheme of revenge. On pages 175-176, Aaron and his roommates beat up an Indian student who was walking down the trail. Aaron’s anger turns to hate on pages 347-350. Aaron was at the point that all he wanted to do was drive around town and enact his revenge upon the Indian citizens of Seattle. The suffering comes around when Aaron loses his friends due to his actions of enacting revenge. His suffering would continue past he end of the novel because on pages 385-387, Sean goes to the police station and turns himself and his friends in for the attacks on the Indians. Every step of Aaron’s journey was fueled by Truck. Aaron’s anger and hate would increase due to Truck’s ability to tell his audience a great story.
Today there are numerous radio show host and people on tv that use their ability to tell a story to influence the masses. Some radio shows influence its listeners to think a certain way about politics. Or a tv show or commercial may influence a person to eat a certain food due to it healthy attributes. This ability to weave a story and the masses will follow it blindly is disturbing. By playing to ones fear or interest a person can practically weave a masterful story and have the masses do their bidding.
DeleteI must applaud you for working in the wisdom of master Yoda. Well done sir. Your post is well written too.
That was a good point to bring up Truck. I hadn't considered what he did as "Story-telling" but you're absolutely right when you say that the stories he tells on his radio have enormous consequences in the real world.
DeleteAlexie uses the art of storytelling to create his characters. The chapters are short, made up of what the character is currently experiencing along with flashbacks significant to the development of the story and the character. These flashbacks also guide the reader to better understand some of the motivations a character may have for acting the way he/she does. Reggie’s father, Bird, raised his son brutally; believing that was the only way to ensure Reggie would not become “a dirty Indian”. Because of this treatment, Reggie turns to violence in order to deal with the confusing feelings he has towards his heritage.
ReplyDeleteJack Wilson has a memory of his father mentioning a relative named Joe Wilson. Jack believes Joe Wilson was actually Red Fox, a Shilshomish Indian. He creates a story that leads his character to eventually become an author who writes stories about Indians.
Stories have the power to create and destroy. Stories that have a moral can determine the actions people take. The phrase “your reputation exceeds you” can be exhilarating, alarming or somewhere in between. Alexis Wells mentioned the game Telephone, which is a great example of how a story can change each time it is told. These retellings can enhance the story in favor of the protagonist, or can work against them. In many cases judgments are made based on things people hear. Stories told concerning stereotypes ensure those stereotypes continue to exist.
Romillo mentioned the news, which is a great example of stories having power in the world. Many people who watch the news take the information at face value, not questioning what they are told. This can, in many cases, cause false information to spread like wildfire. Individuals in power, such as government officials, are capable of influencing those around them with a few of the proper words. A story told the right way can cause a group to rally against you or with you.
The characters in Indian Killer, like people in real life, use stories to shape who they are and who they wish to become. For instance, characters like Dr. Mather and Jack Wilson use stories of Native Americans to project themselves as Native Americans, or something very close to them. Olivia Smith uses Native American stories to give John some sort of connection to his ancestors, whereas John uses stories to envision a life where he hadn’t been adopted and had grown up on a reservation as a proper Native American instead. By using stories, the characters establish the very nature of their being.
ReplyDeleteStories are also used to inform and mislead. Truck Schultz tells the story of the two Christian missionaries who attempted to educate Native American children and were killed for their efforts. Using this story, Truck attempts to convince his listeners of how resistant the Native Americans are to assistance from white people, as well as their supposed savagery. Jack Wilson uses his own stories to create an inaccurate portrayal of Native Americans that various other characters believe to be truthful, despite the fact that Wilson’s stories are entirely fictional.
This sort of misuse of power regarding stories doesn’t just happen in the book; it happens in real life as well. The person who tells the story gets to affect what the audience learns and even how they’ll react to it. Stories can twist truths into lies and make villains out of heroes. This is an incredible power that certainly shouldn’t be taken lightly, especially considering the fact that after enough time passes, stories are all we have left. The only things that can tell us about individual people who lived hundreds of years ago are the stories they’ve left behind and we just have to trust that those stories are told correctly, though we have no real way of knowing one way or the other. This is why stories are so powerful. If used incorrectly, they can spread lies and misinformation about anything, whereas if they’re used truthfully, they can pass on a culture or a way of life long after the people who’ve experienced it firsthand have died.
All of the characters you mentioned had powerful influence with their stories. Dr. Mather, who I am certain your brother(along with others) is not a fan of. Jack Wilson as well, both the doctor and Wilson are terribly misguided. John's own parents. Truck Shultz. Truck Shultz is so outrageous he makes for good ratings, but how much damage does he do with his garbage radio program.
DeleteIn the novel Indian killer, John smith and the novel both use stories to to set the pace for the novel and also everything to do with the novel. I am not a Christian so I am not familiar with the stories of Christianity. But although my religion is different from most in this country I still respect the effectiveness of stories in people's lives. All stories have an impact on people's lives wether it is a story coming from someone's grandparents to a story from a novel like Indian killer. Stories impacted the characters lives in Indian killer just as they would impact someone's life in real life, it was significant just as it always would be, no matter what no matter how true or how false every story has an impact on someone's life in some way.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your statement on how well the author had the characters affected just as they may be in real life.
DeleteYour mention of religion had my interest piqued, At times, as a white male with a Christian background I feel almost generic. I am very curious about your thoughts. Like the want of trying to figure out who the killer is in the novel. I'm certain I would benefit from your insight. Please feel free to elaborate. Pardon me if I am too bold. At your leisure, of course.
I use the passage from the Bible only because the US does have a largely Christian history and I thought many would be familiar with the passage. But this idea--the power of words to create and destroy--comes up in many religions and philosophies.
DeleteAs summer was approaching migrants from far south would travel north to states that needed workers for the harvesting season. Minnesota government had a type of temporary welfare program to support this activity keeping the agriculture industry efficient. It helped provide for housing and income for the families that made the trip.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was a young boy the adults of the neighborhood, a small trailer court (mostly white), would regularly be outside conversing about various subjects. When the migrant workers came they were often the topic of discussion. Racial comments were common. My father was a very stoic and intelligent man, never said anything negative in regards to people of a different skin color. He also didn't refute the many ignorant statements of our neighbors. However, many of the adults and teenagers in the neighborhood had a lot to say about minorities, particularly the seasonal migrant workers. I listened to the comments and held no opinion myself. Over time though I believe that hearing these racial slurs lead to a kind of passive prejudice of the migrants.
In the ninth grade during open gym after lunch I was going for a spectacular layup when I was slammed across the face by Joey Bradstein. Joey had only moved to the area recently and worked with his family during the weekends on the farm north of the trailer court where I lived. Though it was a hard foul he was simply trying to block the shot in a playful way. My reaction was swift. I became enraged and pushed him hard. His head had whiplash and he fell to the ground. He got up immediately and attacked me obviously hurt by the response. Realizing that I was in the wrong I grabbed him as he came at me and threw him into the cushioned wall that gyms have. I pleaded for him to calm down. He persisted and gave me a solid jab to my skull giving me a concussion. I learned it was a concussion because my legs became weak and shortly after, I vomited. I wonder if the reaction I had was because of the prejudice experienced in the past. Was I being racist? A few days earlier one of my white classmates had urinated on his clothes in his gym locker, the only reason I could decipher was because he was dark skinned. The power of stories and tales have power over us in so many ways. Often blind to many of us, the power of words are used without control. Luckily and hopefully I feel I have been able to make my own decisions about people and not regurgitate the filth of the ignorant.
There are many sections in Indian Killer which give a clear example of the negative power of stories. Reggie's father telling him tales with abusive physical force about "dirty Indians".
DeleteThis is true. Reggie's father gives him a very biased interpretation of history which messes with Reggie's mindset and causes him to internalize a lot of what he's hearing which in turn leads to self-loathing.
DeleteStories play a large role in Indian Killer for nearly every person in the novel. There is a lot of discussion in the novel, for example, of who has the right to tell a particular story. This is the problem that Marie runs into with Dr. Mather’s booklist. She claims that the majority of the books on it were not written by Indians, or if they were, were written by Indians with the heavy influence of a white co-writer. Marie believes that as a result of this, the books aren’t accurate representations of Indian literature. Reggie has the same problem when he hears the Indian woman speaking on the tapes that Dr. Mather found. Reggie believes that the stories the Indian woman was telling were sacred and should never have been recorded. Reggie specifically says that the idea of a white man like Dr. Mather owning the tapes was particularly disturbing to him. He believes that the stories should belong solely to Indians. Another idea regarding stories in the novel is the idea that stories and history are written by the victors and therefore, the “truth” and “facts” that should be present in history books are more opinions and a certain perception of the facts.
ReplyDeleteAll of these problems that characters in the novel have regarding stories stem from the same idea: stories are very powerful. They can influence the way a person acts and speaks, their ideas and opinions, even if it’s not in the writer’s agenda. Jack Wilson, for example, writes Indian novels that depict an unrealistic portrayal of Indians. Though Wilson probably means no harm in his depictions, it creates a world of problems for Indians in real life who have to fight against the stereotypes put in place by books such as Wilson’s.
Stories exert power over the world in that they give the person telling the story the power to change it into whatever they want. Two people could be relating the same sequence of events, but depending on the word choice they use, what events they choose to play up or down play, or even, if the story is being spoken aloud, the inflection of their voice, the story could take on two entirely different meanings. We have to bear in mind the fact that most of the information we get is not really objective information, but one person’s take on objective information.
Stories play a very large role in Indian Killer and have a different effect or influence on each character. We as readers as also able to learn a lot about the characters through the story telling in the novel. The most compelling character as far as stories is John. The first way he used stories is to picture the life he never had. He also used stories of his past to shape his views of the present. For example, he recalls his birth and how he was taken away from his family and given to a wealthy white family. His past has severely altered his future and his perception of white people. However, John’s mother tried to keep his roots by finding stories for John to read about his culture. It is almost as though stories have played a role in every aspect of John’s life.
ReplyDeleteStories also play a central role in our lives as well. Without stories we would not know of our past, and without knowledge of our past an uncertain future would await. Most people know stories of the world’s past or present situations as well as the U.S. The stories that have the most influence on us are the ones closest to home. Our parents often tell us stories of their childhood or of our grandparents. Those stories make us happy and bring us joy. However, I personally believe that stories of failure and inspiration hold the greatest effect. When we hear of others failures we avoid those actions. When we learn of others successes we try to replicate them. This is where stories have to the power to create and destroy. They have the power to alter the future by effecting us emotionally. Whenever we act we consider the stories and lessons we have heard before we do so. We might not know it but they do shape you we are and how we act. My point I believe is very consistent with other comments.
Story telling is one of the oldest forms of art known to man. It changes overtime and can be subject to influence according to the times period we are in. They have been used as a mean of entertainment, education, cultural preservation, and to instill moral values with us. Storytelling has always been universal regardless of what culture we come from. Oral story telling has been the precursor to the earliest forms of writing. Story telling can be one of the most effective methods of one generation teaching the next generation. As humans most of the information we store are based off of the stories we hear. Stories mirror human thought, as we think about narratives we most often remember the most important facts from the story. Telling stories can engage listeners to think creatively while they recreate the event in their minds. In Indian Killer we listen more closely because the events taken place could be one individual’s real life conflict. It speaks to us about stereotypes and labeling others solely on their appearance or their backgrounds. In some cultures the elders communicate to their children through rituals, storytelling and for everything comes from the Great Spirit or the creator. Some stories attaching souls to inanimate objects such as rivers, trees, or any other life form. The belief is that we are all connected through the tree of life. When we hear stories of great heroes risking their life to save others we are in amazement of how much courage and humility they display as if they are gods. Those types of stories are ones that inspire us to become if possible “great”. Story telling most of the time is used as a bridge for knowledge and understanding that allow the values of one’s self and the community to connect and be learned as a whole. Over time the story begins to change and the validity of the story becomes in question. The essence of the story is lost.
ReplyDeleteStories are a double edged sword they can be used for good and positively affect the reader. Stories can also be quite harmful and have not only a negative effect on the reader but also by the people influenced by the recipient of the story. This is evident in the way both Aaron and Reggie used the stories told to them by their fathers. Both fathers reinforced the hatred of the Native Americans by drilling the negativity in the heads of their sons which later became detrimental to not only Aaron and Reggie’s outlook on life, but also the people they came in contact with. Both Reggie and Aaron used the stories and lessons taught to them as fuel when they committed assaults on the opposite race for no other reason but race alone. Stories however can have a positive effect. John created stories as an escape from the real world where he saw himself as an outcast. In the stories he created he had an identity and the love of a home tribe. These things that were important to him helped him cope with the battle that he was fighting internally since early childhood.
ReplyDeleteIn order to examine how stories are used in the outside world one has to realize that stories are presented in so many forms. Of course there are the traditional forms of storytelling verbally, and in books or articles but now stories are told in so many modern forms: Photographs, text messages, social media timelines. The stories of so many individuals are so accessible now. Each person who actively using any of the aforementioned tools are chronicling their personal life in some way and in turn creating his/her own personal story. Also because these tools for story telling readily available it is easier to share. The amount of power in a story depends entirely on the recipient of the story. Usually the story is given more power if there is a personal connection and the more the story is spread the more people who can be connected to the story that is why the news and radio can be so influential in the everyday lives of so many people because that is their source of information and stories.