Monday, October 13, 2014
The Birchbark House
Something that stuck out to me while reading The Birchbark House was the respect with which the characters treat animals and nature. When Omakayas's grandmother has to use the tree bark to build their house, she says "Old Sister, we need your skin for our shelter" and gives the tree an offering in return. She seems to do this by way of apology and gratitude, which are not emotions we are used to thinking of feeling towards trees. When Omakayas has her encounter with the mother bear, where you would imagine most people to either flee or attack, Omakayas explains her intentions to the bear and apologizes for the misunderstanding and for frightening her. She tells that bear that her scissors "are nothing compared to your teeth and claws," which shows a respect for how much stronger the bear is and shows that she means her no harm. She calls the bear grandmother, remembering how her own grandmother had instructed her to treat bears with "the greatest respect;" the same reason that, despite using bear pelts and meat for their survival, the Ojibwe people still bury their bones. This encounter also means a great deal to Omakayas, so much that it becomes the most important event in the book for a while.
Another thing I found interesting were the parallels between Old Tallow, who found and rescued Omakayas, and Omakayas's father. They are both described as being over six feet tall, quickly wearing through their makazins (an indication of physical labor), and being sharp of tongue and someone that people don't generally like to mess with. They both have a fondness for Omakayas; Mikwam because she is his daughter, and Old Tallow because she has a respect for Omakayas's mother and grandmother, although, more than likely, it also has something to do with the fact that Old Tallow is the one who brought Omakayas into the tribe as a baby. Although Old Tallow is a woman, she takes on many of the responsibilities that men would usually have: she hunts, and shares her spoils with Omakayas's mother while Mikwam is away. She seems to be a provider and protector, filling in for Mikwam while he is away, in a sense.
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This is something I noticed, too--the idea of respect plays an important role in the story. We discussed in class the parallels between "Little House" and this novel, and I think the idea of respect really separates the two. The Native American culture of "The Birchbark House," as you mentioned, places a large emphasis on respect and thanks to nature, whereas the culture of "Little House" is completely appropriative and full of take, with little give.
ReplyDeleteI also saw the comparison between Old Tallow and Deydey. The masculine qualities present in Old Tallow's description are incredibly vivid, especially the point you make about the makazins. She is an outsider...and perhaps this has to do with how she doesn't fit into the gendered norms present in the Ojibwa culture? Her secluded nature, her self-preservation and her lack of husband I'm sure make her a target for gossip.
ReplyDeleteWe discussed in class how Pinch's disobedience and the disciplinary action taken (or more precisely, *not* taken) by his mother may be a modern intrusion in the historical setting and I wonder how much of Old Tallow may be the same. I'm not familiar enough with the Ojibwa culture of this time period to know how reasonable it is to think that a woman would end a marriage and kick her husband out because he left a baby to die who was alone and possibly sick. I loved her character however. The tough old woman who is a part of the society and yet somehow outside it has always been a favorite character type for me.
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