Nathaniel Pauls Mr. Galea ENG2D1 May 29, 2023 From Runway to Reality The Crushing Impact of Hockey on Saul in Indian Horse Hockey has played a significant impact on the lives of Canadians, becoming an essential part of The nation's culture and identity. In Richard Wagamese's novel, Indian Horse hockey plays a vital part in the protagonist of Saul's life. In the novel, Indian horse the author portrays hockey as an escape for Saul when in reality it is the cause of his downfall and Saul losing himself. Saul losing hockey was a devastating event that led him to fall into his pit of addiction and alcoholism. Sal turns to alcohol as a way to temporarily escape the challenges he is facing with hockey, and escape his emotional suffering, “I began to drink myself. I only know that when I did the roaring in my belly calmed.” (Wagamese …show more content…
Saul is turning to the bottle and going into the darkest thoughts and emotions that he has experienced, “I poured out a blackness that constantly refuelled itself.” (Wagamese 170). Sal is highlighting the consumption and dependence he experiences with his relationship with alcohol. Sal thought surrounding himself with the game would take out the intensity happening, little did he know that the game would soon be the door to his addiction, "The game was me alone with a roaring in my gut and in my ears." (Wagaemese 176). The profound effect hockey had on Saul's emotions and mental state. As Saul proceeded into the competitive world of hockey, Saul couldn't find his own senses and became an addict. Alcohol serves as a reminder of the resilience of Saul's human spirit and the profound impact it has had in his life. Saul initially sees hockey as a way to escape his trauma, becoming a source of anger and violence, “My bodychecks were hard, vicious and vindictive. I was bitter.” (Wagamese 165). Saul faced numerous
Through a process of tremendous struggle, Saul eventually came to his senses and decided to go on an immense journey of healing. Through this journey of pondering and reconnecting with Native roots and biological family in a spiritual manner, Saul filled the empty void within
James Frey, Leonard, and Lilly are the main characters of this book. James is the narrator, in which he told the entirely book through his points of view. He explains his feelings, thoughts, and reactions upon his addiction. He was a privileged child that began drinking and smoking pot at age ten. Now, that he is older, he is addicted to drugs and alcohol, which led him into a rehab clinic.
On March 3, 1875, in Montreal, the first modern game of hockey took place. Since then, the sport’s popularity has grown, and it is now played and watched by millions globally. Jason Blake’s article “Hockey as a Symbol of Nationhood” examines the role of hockey in Canada and in Canadian identity. Using analysis points such as historical context, cultural significance and political implications, Blake argues that hockey is deeply ingrained in Canadian culture and is a symbol of the country's identity. Although Blake provides a thorough exploration of the significance of hockey in Canada, his analysis is lacking a more critical examination of the sport's role in Canadian society.
Why all the Blue Jackets injuries.” The title, a pun for the whole article itself, summarizes the article. Having a witty title leaves a lasting impression with an audience. It helps the author get to the main point in a way that interests or makes the reader pose questions before they even read the article. Considering the close link between hockey and golf, this article compares the curse of Leatherlips on Muirfield Golf Club to the fifteen year bad luck streak of the Blue Jackets.
He has always been a heavy drinker but did not think much of it because of how he was raised and grew up with alcoholic parents. Substance abuse becomes a substantial problem for him, it forms unhealthy habits and makes him act out of character while under the influence and later results in him being forcibly cut from the team if he does not choose to attend rehab. Jordin was not content with these circumstances but he recognized this as a problem and knew something had to be done. Jordin was always open and honest about his addiction, “I’m going to rehab,” Jordin exclaimed, “I’m in fucking LA, I’m going to a facility.” (151), no one seemed to believe him, people were just so surprised and caught off guard by the news.
Saul is introduced to competitive hockey but simultaneously introduced to a world of prejudice and racism from both the crowd and opposing teams as well. Saul finds himself growing in his career however, prejudice would only increase as it followed. Although Saul would face physical and verbal assault during games in his competitive years, Saul is able to counter the assault by responding physically and fighting back. This is when he realizes that the competitive world took away his love of hockey, so he decides to go back to Manitouwadge to rediscover his love for hockey. It is then when he decides “what [he wants] to do is coach . . .
He was resistant but soon grew close to his new family and teammates. His new team, the Moose, grew stronger as Saul was the secret weapon. They started to create headlines, and town teams grew interested in playing them, even though Saul was reluctant to face them. Soon, they were invited to elite tournaments, and they were invited to the tournament in Espanola. At the tournament, players soon discovered Saul’s weakness.
Despite the abuse and trauma experienced by Saul and other Indigenous people at residential school, Saul is able to find solace and purpose in the game of hockey, which becomes a central theme throughout the novel. "I had been broken and shattered, but I had gathered my pieces up and come on anyway" (Indian Horse by Richard Wagamese). This quote encapsulates the resilience of Saul through hockey; he is able to tap into his own strength and resilience, as well as the strength and resilience of his Indigenous heritage. Saul's journey is a testament to the strength of the human spirit and the power of cultural identity to overcome adversity. Through his connection to his Indigenous roots, Saul finds the strength to face the challenges of his life and to confront the trauma of his past.
The detrimental and unfair categorization of people by race, gender and more, commonly known as discrimination, affects many in society both mentally and emotionally. Many instances of this act of hatred occurred among Aboriginal and Native Canadians in the 20th century. However, for a little Native Indian boy stepping onto the rink, this is the norm that surrounds him. Saul Indian Horse, in Richard Wagamese’s “Indian Horse”, faces discrimination head on, where his strengths for hockey are limited by the racial discrimination from the surrounding white ethnicity. Consequently, this racism draws him into a mentally unstable state, where he suffers heavy consequences.
Alcoholics are often used in stories as comic relief, which to a person who grew up under the shadow of alcoholism, isn’t very funny at all. This point was to illustrate that people really don’t understand alcoholism for what it really is: a disease that has devastating effects on families for generations. Instead of directly countering those misconceptions, Sanders describes his upbringing in vivid detail. He describes his father’s behavior in a way that makes the reader appreciate that there comes a point where alcoholism is not really a matter of a person having a moral weakness, a lack of self-control, or is weak-willed. It’s a disease that robs people of their lives and of themselves.
Saul’s mental instability and loss of identity is revealed through his oblivious drinking. For instance, Saul shows how unaware he is of his identity and starts drinking as a result, as he says, “.... I discovered that being someone you are not often easier than living with the person you are. I became drunk with that” (Wagamese 181). Saul’s reflection is significant to his progression into substance abuse because it shows that without his identity, he lost the morals and principles he had. This turning point led Saul on a downward spiral of aggression and isolation.
Using hockey as an outlet, Saul escapes the horrendous influence of the school and copes with the many atrocities he faces and ultimately reclaims his true self. For Saul, hockey became a means in which he can escape the abuse from St. Jerome’s. For example, when Father Leboutillier learned of Saul’s interest and skill in the game, the both of them became closer, in which Saul describes Father Leboutillier as a father figure. Saul quotes, “Father Leboutillier was my ally. When the nuns
Paul’s gambling addiction and schizophrenia are the result of brain deformities caused by fetal alcohol syndrome. On top of that, Paul’s mother not being able to feel love for her children provides evidence that she drank during the
In that passage, Sander says “the main reason why am using the past tense not because my father never quit drinking, it’s because my father already quit living” (p. 71). On other words, Sander uses this example to show how his father’s alcoholism behavior ruined his life while in his childhood. According to Sanders, his father could not live without being alcohol. Sander shows us how life became enjoyable to him and his family. Apart from comparison and metaphors, the author has also used figurative language in describing his father’s habit.
Alcohol Sadness The essay “Let It Snow” by David Sedaris is an explanation of how alcohol can have a lasting effect on a family. In this essay, Sedaris writes about his growing up with an alcoholic mother and her mistreatment of her children with this addiction. Sedaris’ writing proves this statement by sharing about one particular day when school was canceled due to a snowstorm. Sedaris is a well-known writer, playwright and radio commentator whose work often has an autobiographical focus (Faigley 89).