Symbolism In The Medicine Bag

Traditions are what bond families together through love, fight and sacrifice. In the story The Medicine Bag by Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve, Martin and his grandpa didn’t have much in common but being related, but by the end they had bonded through many things that had happened along the way. Overall traditions are expressed in this story through symbolism, theme and through characters.

Martin and his grandpa weren’t close at all as Martin grew up but now they had a chance to do around their heritage and with the medicine bag. Grandpa wore the medicine bag around his neck all the time to represent his father and to show his Sioux heritage. In the story grandpa tells why he wears the medicine bag when it says “My son, this is very sacred to our family you must take care of it and wear it to show our heritage on the reservation when I am gone.” What this meant to me was that grandfather wanted Martin to have the bag because he felt it would protect him when he was deceased. Martin was as white as

ghost when receiving the honor because he was surprised that he had gotten the chance to have the sacred item in his family’s heritage.

The theme of the story The Medicine bag was one man's trash is another man's treasure.

This is expressed in the story because most people would think the medicine bag should be in the trash not worn around your neck to show it off. It is stated that the medicine bag is a prized possession when it states “This is not a toy this is a family heirloom that is very special and delicate for the whole family.” What I think grandpa is trying to say is that this item should be treated with TLC and not just stuck on a shelf to collect dust. Another theme of the story was that with accepting the medicine bag there is a lot of responsibility. When you receive the medicine bag you become the man of the house to protect everyone. It says this in the story when it says “Along with accepting the bag you now are responsible for it and have to take care of it.” What grandpa means in this line is that after it is yours many responsibilities come with it and you have to be ready for

it.

Lastly traditions were expressed through characters. Grandpa followed Sioux traditions so he had to wear beads and all the Sioux clothes. This shows traditions when grandpa says “ I like to wear the Sioux clothing it is my natural way of life.” What grandpa is saying is that traditions should be followed and not pushed away because they are there for a reason. Another character tradition was what Martin would wear. Martin wears casual clothing and that is the tradition in Iowa. Martin talks about his clothing when he states “ My grandfather and I wear such different clothing I am normal and he is just awkward. What I think Martin is trying to say is that his normal is what everyone should wear because it is his tradition. This is how characters portrayed the idea of traditions.

Traditions were represented in many ways throughout the story The Medicine Bag. THe three ways traditions were represented through theme,symbolism, and characters. Overall this story was touching by the ways grandpa talked about his heritage and wanted to pass it on. Do you wish you had a grandpa like this? I think that I would want a joyful grandfather like this because he would teach me alot life and that would be a wonderful thing.