Substance Abuse In Traplines By Eden Robinson

1198 Words3 Pages

A trapline requires mathematical planning and maintenance to successfully catch the desired prey. A person must often come back and check for a catch. If empty, they will restructure their line until they get what they are after. There are countless traps to ensure optimal kills. Eden Robinson's Traplines unfolds the systemic and metaphorical ‘traplines’ set out to exile indigenous peoples in a world dominated by colonialistic values. The character of Will lives directly on this trapline. Forced to tiptoe with every step he takes to escape the interconnected, systematic blockades before him. Faced with the impacts of intergenerational trauma, Will must navigate the presence of white substances and subsequent abuse within his household. Leading …show more content…

Robbins portrays life on the reserve as a place where white cultural influence has become destructive and pervasive. The intergenerational trauma experienced by Will’s family leads to a butterfly effect. From substance abuse to physical abuse. The ‘matter of fact’, short sentence style in the text emphasises a sense of acceptance, and normlessness the experiences of abuse are for Will. In his telling of events, it appears that the isolation is both physical from the privileged town and psychological. The short sentence structure omits Will's surroundings and the feelings he has about the situation. Evident in his altercation with Eric. “Eric sneaks up behind me. He doubles over. He has a towel stretched between his hands. his choking game.” (Cite 8). The absence of elaboration of his surroundings and feelings contributes to this sense of psychological isolation. The reader gets the sense that Will is so accustomed to the abuse that he withdraws emotionally, a strategy for coping with his daily reality. Typically, children describe their surroundings and emotions in vivid detail. However, Will's narration is devoid of such details, creating a sense of emotional …show more content…

Additionally, the invitation for Will to live with the Smiths was given by Mr. Smith telling Will “You will be safer here” (Cite). He does not know Will’s home life or the dynamics behind it. Yet he assumes Will should abandon his heritage and assimilate into the town. For Will to live away from the village, and move to the town with Mrs Smith, it would be safer for him undoubtedly. This is not the issue. The issue arises with the assumption that a colonial way of life is better for Will. The village allows Will to remain intact with an already fading rich culture of his ingenious routes. Despite his household being contaminated with the substances and consequently abused by colonial origins, remains the last barrier to complete assimilation. However, there is evidence that the Smiths did have a lasting impact on Wills's perception of indigenous identity as he consequently falls into the trap of a cultural divide. Highlighted with the pronoun uses of ‘I’ and ‘They’ when referring to his friends around Mrs Smith. “Tony grabs his crotch. Billy is cleaning his nails. The other guys are

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