Indian Horse Richard Wagamese Analysis

Indian Horse is the perfect novel for any reader who does not see positivity in a bad situation. Richard Wagamese magnificently takes the reader into an emotional rollercoaster throughout their reading journey. Wagamese superbly proves the possibility of getting back up when knocked down, no matter how many times a person is knocked down. Despite the atrocious scenes that come up, Indian Horse is an optimistic novel because it shows that Aboriginal people have positivity and hope not only negatives, and that they are not just “lazy and hopeless”: a reader can see these positives through Saul’s hard work to improve and become the best hockey player he can be, his effort to ameliorate and return to being a “normal” member of society , and the

caring family atmosphere created by the Kellys.
Not until the end of the novel does the reader find out that Saul was sexually abused when he was at St.Jerome’s. One would think that Wagamese left the sexual abuse of Saul until the end, in order for the reader to experience Saul’s progress and success with no subconscious guilt or sympathy. Saul grows up with constant misfortunes, his brother and grandmother die, parents leave, then he is thrown into a residential school where he feels like the outcast: kids at St.Jerome’s call him a “Zhaunagush” because he knows how to read and speak in English. Despite all of the pessimism, hockey, Saul’s salvation saves him from giving into the vicious cycle of depression created at St. Jerome’s. Saul teaches himself how to play hockey by watching professionals on television, he also practices early in the morning while everyone is asleep: “ ‘How did you learn?’ ‘By myself. In the mornings. After I cleared the ice.’ “(68). Saul is smaller in size than most of the players he plays against, putting him at a disadvantage, but Saul’s lighting speed and vision allow him to not only overcome his size problem, but also make him the best player in every team he plays with. Saul is constantly ignoring the racism and hatred directed at him while on the ice: “That’s when I felt it. Spittle. It rained down from the seats behind us, and I heard them calling me names and beating against the glass. When I turned around I came face to face with a boy who must have been about nine. He spit against the glass. ‘Fuckin’ chicken,’ he mouthed. The man standing beside him squeezed his shoulder”(143). Readers are amazed by Saul’s powerful character, his cool, and calmness. Driven by his love for hockey and hope to never turn into someone like those who abuse him on the ice, Saul never lashes out at his opponents nor the fans, acknowledging the fact that if he ever turns to aggressive behaviour he would lose everything.
Saul breaks his promise to himself and starts fighting in games.

The fighting is ignited by the racism he faces, leading him into a downward spiral of negativity. Saul quits the Marlboros and starts drinking; drinking to forget the nightmares he lived through. He constantly travels from a place to another, changing jobs, feeling lost and vacant. Saul feels vacant because of losing all that he had, his family and his beloved hockey. He is left with nothing to turn to and seek comfort in, except alcohol which he ironically tells the reader that it kills him: “The first thing you have to realize is that what you need to survive is killing you”(189). Saul works hard with his counselor Moses to regain himself and get back on his feet: he quits drinking and focuses on his rehabilitation. Saul tells Moses that he is ready to leave The New Dawn Centre, he travels back to places he grew up in, like God’s Lake, St.Jerome’s, and finally he ends up back at the Kellys’ place: “When Fred Kelly opened it, his face cracked into a wide grin”(208). It is obvious to the reader that Fred likes Saul, and that he is happy to see him again after a long period of time. Saul, Martha, and Fred sit down and talk about what happened at the school, they share their pasts and the horror they went through. Sharing very sensitive and horrific memories tells the reader that Saul trusts and feels comfortable with the Kellys, the main reason for his return. Fred tells Saul that the Moose need a coach and Saul

decides to give it a shot.
Residential schools’ purpose was to eradicate the “Indian” from the children, but it is impossible to remove someone’s identity from within them.

The negativity seen in today’s society and the awful stereotypes about Aboriginals would never exist if was not for all the racism and savagery they had to endure. Zen Master and peace activist Thich Nhat Hanh said, “Hope is important because it can make the present moment less difficult to bear. If we believe that tomorrow will be better, we can bear a hardship today.” A reader can identify that one of the main messages to be taken from Indian Horse, is that hope drove Saul to keep on working hard and that residential schools were never able to take away Aboriginal people’s hope. A reader would think that Saul’s acceptance of coaching the Moose is not for his own gain, but also to help the kids who play on the team, both physically and

emotionally.