Gordie Kashpaw's Love Medicine: Symbols

1551 Words4 Pages

Mikey Soto
Professor Peterson
English 380
27 November 2013
Gordie Kashpaw
Love Medicine by Louise Erdrich contains many symbols and motifs; one that is most apparent throughout the book is the symbol of Christ. We first see this symbol through the death of June Morrissey in the beginning of the novel. Most readers would venture to say that June best exemplifies the character of a Christ-like symbol, but I disagree. In the novel, particularly the chapters entitled “Crown of Thorns” and “Resurrection,” Gordie Kashpaw best exemplifies this Christ-like figure by becoming not only a symbol of pain and agony, but also a symbol of recovery and resurrection.
The chapter entitled “Crown of Thorns” follows the pain and agony Gordie Kashpaw first experiences. …show more content…

Gordie is missing his wife so much that he is drinking himself to unconsciousness; “A month after June died, Gordie took the first drink, and then the need was on him like a hook in his jaw, tipping his wrist, sending him out with needles piercing his hairline, his aching hands” (Erdrich 208). Gordie begins to fear thoughts of June and feels ashamed about some of the past actions he took on her; “What his hands remembered now were the times they struck June” (Erdrich 209). In a drunken state, trying to forget his thoughts about hurting his wife, Gordie stumbles out into the darkness and sets off in pursuit of more alcohol. While in isolation and sadness, Gordie begins to call out for June, and it frightens him; “‘I love you, little cousin!’ he said loudly. ‘June!’ Her name burst from him. He wanted to take it back as soon as he said it. Never, never, ever call the dead by their names, Grandma said. They might answer. Gordie knew this. Now he felt very uneasy” (Erdrich 213). Gordie begins to fear his thoughts of June and gets terrified in his visions of her. His persistent pursuits for alcohol and his constant consumption of it have poisoned him to sick thoughts, depression, and isolation. This addiction to alcohol and constant yearning for it is a symbol of temptations from the devil. Gordie, once again, shows he is a Christ-like figure by battling his own type of devil, …show more content…

"Resurrection" shows Gordie's unpredictable behavior from his drunkenness, along with Marie's responsibility to do what must be done in order to protect her son. The title of the chapter “Resurrection” is fitting to Gordie, because similar to how Jesus Christ resurrected from his pain, agony, and death, Gordie has an opportunity to “resurrect” and recover from his pain and agony from alcohol abuse.
The chapter begins with Gordie stammering into his mother’s yard where he eventually passes out from being belligerently drunk; “He swayed, arms close to his sides, a doll with weighted feet. The circle of his motion grew rounder and wider until in one movement he uprooted himself and sprawled headlong, diving forward to the margin of spent grass that Marie cultivated with the leavings of her kitchen water” (Erdrich 261). Marie leaves her son to sleep there and covers him with a quilt. Upon waking up, Gordie feels the need to apologize to his mother. Marie realizes that her son’s real intentions of visiting her was to get more alcohol, but she was willing to put up a fight in order to stop him; “'Give me that shot.’ His demand was sharp, sudden, sober. He rose toward her, bigger, expanding his chest, pushing out his neck cords. Marie did not move but when his hand came near, she raised her paring knife and

Open Document