The Joy Luck Club, And The Wisdom Of The New

Telling stories throughout history has been a way for individuals to enhance their communication skills. Without stories there is no real proof of experience. In many instances one could say storytelling has changed his/her perspective on life. Focusing on three works of literature, Tracks, The Joy Luck Club, and “The Wisdom Of The New”, it will be discussed if storytelling plays a vital role in each of these. Throughout these three works of literature, there are stories embedded within that help evolve the relationship between stories and real life. The authors for each of these pieces are highlighting the power of storytelling and how it positively influences the way these characters live. The authors also exploit the connection between storytelling

She captures the intimacy of storytelling through Nanapush and Pauline’s point of view and their experiences. In the beginning of Tracks, storytelling is prevalent. Throughout the book storytelling is used to insure long standing of the tribes community and survival. In the beginning of the novel, Nanapush had convinced himself he was alive by the power of his own voice. He talked all night long to Father Damien (Using the green book of Tracks 7). Also, Nanapush mentions “during the year of sickness, when I was the last one left, I saved myself by telling a story (Tracks 46). Thus, telling stories gave him the ability to survive. He welcomed life and eventually this led to the continuation of his storytelling. This accurately emphasizes that the author uses storytelling as a survival technique

Often a Native’s tribes tell stories as apart of their heritage. They use the past to keep the present alive. For example, in Tracks Nanapush and his nephew went to take Napoleon and Clarence’s last cow. In order to do this, Nanapush had to bring up the past. “Remember when we spared the life of that one?” (Tracks 181). This was referring to the time when Nanapush spared the life of Clarence. Without Nanapush bringing up the story of the past he would never have been able to get part of the Morrissey’s cow. Also, towards the end of the book Fleur’s daughter has a life threatening illness because she left her shoes on through winter. It was Nanapush’s job to hold on to Lulu through the night and keep her from dying. In order to prevent this, he used the power of his words. “Once I had you I did not dare break the string between us and kept on moving my lips, holding you motionless with talking, just as at this moment. For the first time in my life, it was my duty as well as pleasure to hold forth all night and long into the next morning” (Tracks 167). The author emphasizes the power of the storyteller’s words by showing that Lulu slowly got better. “I talked on and on until you lost yourself inside of flow of it, until you entered the swell and ebb and did not sink but were sustained” (Tracks 167). This is another illustration why storytelling is used as a survival technique throughout