Throughout an individual’s entire lifetime, they will frequently receive guidance from mentors that assist them through uncertainties and difficulties they encounter along their path. This act of mentoring is enhanced by passing on traditional customs and “storytelling” the individual of past teachings that enrich their understanding of their own identity. The initial feelings of ignorance and unfamiliarity of an individual’s own identity are later transitioned into feelings of humbleness and respect once the individual thoroughly embraces their identity. It is through an individual’s own revelation and acceptance of their past that will allow them to continue travelling in the proper direction while reflecting on their honorable journey that …show more content…
Garnet Raven is the main character who will undergo this self-change as he begins to truly accept everything that he surrounds him, from the native Indians to the sounds of nature in White Rock. He is able to fully appreciate his surroundings not only from his own determination but also from the assistance of old man Keeper. While the novel describes positive aspects of integrating into a fast-paced, modern society, Wagamese criticizes this tendency for humans to indulge themselves in this “big, shiny” outside world as it sometimes makes people lose themselves from forgetting the old spirit inside of them. This paper will demonstrate the benefits of embracing tradition and culture since it allows individuals to discover an unseen, hidden side of themselves that they were previously unaware of. Wagamese uses the factors of humbleness, respect and gratitude to indicate the transition an individual experience from feelings of emptiness to those of …show more content…
By following through the tobacco offering process, Garnet is able to constantly remind himself to be thankful for everything that has assisted with his growth as a human. By displaying gratitude, this allows Garnet to “really try’n see this world around [him]… see lots that taught [him] something sometime.” (255) Wagamese uses the idea of “really try’n to see this world” to demonstrate that it is only possible to become truly thankful when one learns to apply the teachings and knowledge they have received to their daily lives. The insight that Garnet attains from absorbing all the fundamental traditions that he becomes familiar with causes him to reawaken a hidden side of his identity that was he was previously ignorant of. By “really try’n to see this world”, Garnet begins to understand that in order to maintain a steady relationship with his inner self, it is necessary to balance the life which he was born from and the outside world that moves at a faster pace. In order to lead his future path and continue his storytelling towards others who will may need the same assistance that he once needed, Garnet realizes that his roots must never be abandoned. Wagamese elucidates that after he “sees lots that taught [him] something sometime”, the
The way that they are represented in the novel provides an insight into modern day native American culture unparalleled by any history book. The way women, children, men, religious figures, and senior citizens are represented in the book allow readers to see the way native Americans interact with others. These interactions allow us to see how native
The unique culture in the novel shows a different role women had in society, a different symbolism for land and how wealth changed a person and his
The Other Wes Moore by Wes Moore is about identity. Throughout the book, Wes Moore questions why he and the other Wes Moore had such different lives, even though, they shared a name. In doing so, it caused him to look deeper into his background and himself and wonder how he ended up where he was, along with the other Wes Moore. According to Wes Moore, “As I’ve puzzled over the issue, I’ve become convinced that there are some clear and powerful measures that can be taking during this crucial time in a young person’s life” (Moore 179). He had discovered that he and the other Wes Moore had similar upbringings, but the choices he made differed from the other Wes Moore’s choices.
As time passes, while becoming closer to Lonnie and meeting his family, Garnet is quick to realise that he does not know who he is and where he comes from. Furthermore, all he is able to feel is a sense of loneliness, not the type of loneliness while standing in a crowd filled with people but one that consumes him and is unable to shake. Soon after Garnet recognizes in order to fill this hollow tunnel inside, he must reconcile with his family. Once he arrives in prison due to trafficking drugs he receives a letter from his brother Stanley filled with messages of love, telling him to come home which he
Thus, Lena disagreed with her father’s idea of painting the house door blue, “He had said the houses up the hill all looked too much alike… their home would be easier to see because of the door”, Lena rebelled the idea because in her young mind, she believed that “who would have a problem? She had known that all Indians within a 100 mile radius and that they didn’t find their way to each other by the description of their houses.” But what she didn’t understand was that the blue door was a way for her father to continue the remaining indigenous culture they had left, to stand out from the dominant society and bring a feel of home to indigenous people like Lena. As she walked towards the house, “she realised that she had kept that door in her mind throughout all these years she had been away… a bright blue against the white.” The bright blue door allowed Lena to remember the indigenous culture within herself because of the bright blue door that stood out with the rest of the white doors, describing the blue door as “a cool blue shield against the summer heat.”
Those who read fiction and mentally observe this socially constructed isolation tend to be more understanding, empathizing, and open minded. By using literature and even historical events to open one’s mind, one can surpass this subconscious animalistic judgment and break these metaphorical barriers of social
Initial Assessment Garnet from the novel Keeper N’ Me seems like a rather resourceful individual that has relied mainly on himself to navigate through life ever since he aged out of the foster care system. The way in which he chose to survive during this time may have been influenced by the pervasively negative stereotypes against Indigenous people, his detachment from his community, family, and heritage, as well as the observed desire to fit in or belong. Garnet’s primary presenting clinical issues seem to be a diminished sense of self and self-esteem. This may be due to growing up in all-white households and schools with no formal education about his family history/heritage or of Indigenous teachings in general. The knowledge that he was able to gather from within these
After leaving the foster care system at the age of sixteen Garnet struggled to find his own Identity. Most of the foster homes Garnet stayed in didn’t tell him about where he was from or what his history was; he was always just
The main idea of “The Charmer” is the changing perspective the protagonist Winifred has on the tragedies befallen on her family. Family conflict is a predominant theme in the story and all members of her family directly face it. The narrator uses her elder brother Zach’s smothered childhood, charming personality and rebellious nature to create internal family conflict. The narrator begins her story as a young girl who, along with her two sisters and mother, unconditionally serves Zach as his obedient slaves.
While the novel primarily focuses on the themes of love, duty, and societal expectations, Wharton expertly incorporates mythological references and influences to add depth and meaning to the narrative. By drawing upon classical myths and archetypes, Wharton highlights the timeless nature of human desires and the enduring power of myth in shaping our understanding of the world. I. The Entitled Archer: Newland Archer as a Modern Acteaon Just as Actaeon fell victim to his own desires and suffered the consequences, Archer too finds himself ensnared by the restrictive social norms and expectations of his time, ultimately leading to his own emotional and psychological entrapment.
His lack of exposure to any sort of homey atmosphere limits his capabilities in bonding emotionally to anyone. Wagamese illustrates all of these links and themes through his writing by exhibiting the symbols of Garnet’s lack of a home, as well as a lack of a loving family, but in the end provides Garnet with both. When Garnet does arrive home and meets his family he is finally comfortable with his life. He finds peace and love with his family and poses as a true advocate for those who wish to have a home but are unsure of how to do
The novel, “There There” by Tommy Orange follows the stories of a plethora of characters, sharing many unique experiences with the readers. Themes of gender, identity, community, race, and assimilation can be seen throughout these stories, as the characters experience them firsthand. The journeys these characters experience connect these themes to the terms culture, multiracial person, and stereotype through showcasing the impact that these terms have on the characters and their stories. Culture is a term referring to the practices, arts, and achievements of a nation or group of people. Strong traces of culture can be seen throughout the novel, as the characters all have unique experiences with the same culture.
With his newly found self-identity, he learns that he is his own person that lives for himself, and not for a group of people. In brief, someone’s self-identity is realized with the drive of their
The environment in which an individual grows up in can affect life greatly. Our surroundings influence one’s personality, self-expression, and individuality, otherwise known as identity. Finding one’s true self is the most grueling stage of life and expectations of family and society make the process even harder. One’s true identity can sometimes clash with hopes of others, thus breaking tradition and/or family ties. Pressure to change will always be present, but staying true to uniqueness will prevail.
Beginning and ending with references to Troy, the poet of Gawain and the Green Knight, foreshadows the narrative with the paradox of failure being framed as greatness. Starting the poem with a discussion of the fall of Troy, speaks to the destined failure of Gawain and his quest, both literally and figuratively. Ending the poem with a reference to Troy’s greatness, presents the paradox of a fallen city, and with an army that lost the war, but, is still hailed as great. Gawain was destined to fail from the very beginning, it was an inevitable outcome.