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.