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The Changing Spirituality of Individuals: The Similarities of Two Supposed Opposites in Major Texts
Spirituality is universal to human beings in the sense that each individual searches for a meaning to their life by taking a look at the bigger picture. The Cree author, Tomson Highway, displays the importance of Aboriginal spirituality in his play, The Rez Sisters. In particular, an Aboriginal sacred figure, called Nanabush (Gadacz), attempts to restore lost morality to a reserve known as Wasychigan Hill. Similarly, a Canadian author, Joseph Boyden, introduces a bringer of Christian spirituality named Christophe “Crow”, to a tribe of Huron, in his novel called The Orenda. In The Rez Sisters, Nanabush focuses to return Aboriginal culture to
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seven women who have been influenced by Westernization. In The Orenda, Christophe tries to spread the word of God, specifically to a village of Huron who grew up with Aboriginal morals. Nanabush and Christophe appear to be much different because of their beliefs, but the two characters have common attributes. Primarily, they are both conveyers of spirituality and they follow this objective through the duration of the two written works. Furthermore, their dissociation within society and the pitiable relationships they have with other characters are parallel. Ultimately, both characters use actions to bring a major change in the two texts. By looking at the spirituality that both characters put forward in their text, the detached relationships they have with those around them, and the change that occurs due to their arrival, it will become evident that Nanabush from The Rez Sisters and Christophe “Crow” from The Orenda are ultimately similar. The word spiritual is defined as, “relating to, or affecting the human spirit or soul as opposed to material or physical things” (Oxford Dictionary). The idea of spirituality is the basis of the mythological character named Nanabush in Tomson Highway’s The Rez Sisters, and the Christian priest named Christophe in Joseph Boyden’s The Orenda. Both Nanabush and Christophe have similar traits as they both bring spirituality to others, they use the vulnerabilities of others to their advantage in their spread of spiritual beliefs, and the two characters essentially have good intentions for other characters, despite their actions not always showing it. When observing the two texts, it is apparent that Nanabush and Christophe are the most spiritual characters, and they never fail to extend it. As stated earlier, Nanabush is an important spiritual figure in Aboriginal beliefs, especially among the Ojibwa and Algonquin tribes. In The Rez Sisters he appears amongst seven women – however, he is not physically visible to all of the women – who have lost the traditional Aboriginal values, such as living in harmony with everything contained in the natural world and treating all objects in their environment with respect (Government of Canada). Rather than having the traditional beliefs, the seven women are concentrated on winning prize money from a bingo – THE BIGGEST BINGO IN THE WORLD – in order to buy objects that are unnecessary in their lives. This is apparent when one woman, named Annie, says she would like to use the bingo money to buy every Patsy Cline record in Toronto. Similarly, Annie’s sister, named Marie-Adele, says she would use the bingo money to purchase an island (Highway 1.35-36). The straying from their supposed Aboriginal values not only displays the need for Nanabush in their lives but it is also the primary reason he decides to aid them. Although he introduces a different religion, Christophe is determined to bring his foreign spirituality to a tribe of Huron in The Orenda, which is similar to Nanabush reintroducing a lost spirituality to the seven women. By living with a village of Huron, Christophe’s sole purpose is to convert them into Christians - and despite facing obstacles, under no circumstances does he stop. His teachings of the soul and a Great Voice – God in the Christian faith – to the Aboriginals is met with obstacles, such as their statements that oppose Christianity and their disobedience to listen to him. This becomes apparent when a Huron named Aaron says to Christophe, “we do not believe your claim that okis exist only in humans” (Boyden 160). Aaron’s comment shows that they do not believe in the Christian principle that a soul can only exist in a human, and nothing else. Despite the difficulties of teaching Aboriginals, Christophe prevails and continues to spread his faith. Although Christophe conveys a spirituality to the Aboriginals that is different than that of Nanabush’s, it is still evident how both encompass the definitive goal of bringing faith. In their conquest to bring spirituality to the Aboriginals, Nanabush and Christophe use the vulnerabilities of other characters to their advantage.
In The Rez Sisters, one of the only characters able to see Nanabush is a woman named Marie-Adele. In addition to her ability to speak Cree to communicate with Nanabush, she is also dying from cancer. Some readers speculate that Nanabush speaks with Marie-Adele because she is able to speak Cree; however, her approaching death gives the impression that Nanabush appears to her to take her away. For this reason, Nanabush strikes at Marie-Adele, and goes as far as to play “games” with her (Highway 1.18). In an attempt to bring her the spirituality he believes is right, Nanabush uses the weakness of Marie-Adele’s close death to bring spirituality to her before she dies, and to stop her from continuing into the afterlife with a lack of Aboriginal culture. Likewise, Christophe from The Orenda self proclaims himself as a trickster (Boyden 245). He and two of his donnés – helpers from France – use writing and reading to deceive a group of Huron into believing that the Great Voice gave the French donnés. This would lead the Huron to consider the existence of the Great Voice, when in reality, Christophe simply used their lack of reading ability to trick them. The actions of Nanabush and Christophe show that both characters exploit the weaknesses of the Aboriginals they are with in order to increase the number of people with spirituality in …show more content…
their lives. Despite their actions being seemingly poor in regards to others, the two characters in fact have good intentions for others. Nanabush makes this apparent when he listens to the story of a mentally-disabled woman from The Rez Sisters, named Zhaboonigan. He pays attention to her story of rape by two white men, and afterwards, he suffers from agonizing contortions (Highway 1.47-48). The pain that he suffers from hearing out Zhaboonigan shows that he is not ill-intended as he appears to be when he subsequently attacks Marie-Adele and Zhaboonigan. However, he only shows aggression because he wants the seven women of The Rez Sisters to make the right choices. Similar to Nanabush, Christophe has underlying good intentions for the Aboriginals that he has met. For instance, when he and a village of Aboriginals are in danger of an attack from enemies, he proclaims, “I will die for these ones in the hopes that their souls may find the light of Heaven” (Boyden 429). Christophe’s willingness to sacrifice his life for Aboriginals who have not always appreciated him, demonstrates his altruism and love for others. Both Nanabush and Christophe seek the best for the Aboriginal people that surround them, regardless of the fact that their actions do not always portray this. Ultimately, the two characters share the spirituality they attempt to bring to the Aboriginals, the vulnerabilities of others they use to their advantage, and the fine intentions they seek for others. Their goal to bring spirituality not only makes them influential, but, the connections they possess with different characters also make Nanabush and Christophe alike. Relationships are important for an individual to develop in their life and to feel a sense of belonging. Despite Nanabush being an important figure in Aboriginal spirituality, in The Rez Sisters, he is an outsider that attempts to spread spirituality through one specific character due to him being deeply misunderstood, which results in his bad treatment. However, his relationships with other characters essentially make him similar to Christophe from The Orenda. In spite of both characters attempting to bring spirituality to the general population that surrounds them, Nanabush and Christophe specifically focus on reforming one other character, resulting in a deeper connection with that character. In The Rez Sisters, Nanabush deepens his relationship with Marie-Adele, which becomes apparent as she is one of the two characters he directly interacts with. She initially fears him because she does not know who he truly is, nor does she understand his intentions; nonetheless, when she does become aware of who he is, she willingly goes with him into the spirit world. In the end, Nanabush manages to expand his spiritually to Marie-Adele, but in doing so, she has an unfortunate death. Similar to the relationship between Nanabush and Marie-Adele, in The Orenda, Christophe forms a relationship with a young woman named Snow Falls.
Christophe originally intended for Snow Falls to be his first convert among the Huron village; nevertheless the two face a rocky relationship. In particular, Snow Falls primarily thinks of Christophe as an awkward man and she only pretends to support his Christian faith, as a means to infuriate her father, named Bird. For majority of the text, Christophe fails to convert her to his ways and eventually gives up on her. Regardless, he continuously protects her and even saves her from being assaulted by a French man (Boyden 133). Yet, when Snow Falls realizes that her husband may be killed, she accepts Christophe’s faith when she eats the Transubstantiated food, hoping that her husband may be saved by the Great Voice (Boyden 450). Unfortunately, however, the food was poisoned by one of Christophe’s French donnés, which kills Snow Falls, and leaves her with the same fate as Marie-Adele. In sum, Nanabush and Christophe formed a unique
relationship
Neidhardt in Black Elk Speaks offers an introspective narrative of the spiritual atmosphere surround the Sioux’s spiritual legacy. In doing so, the author promotes the validation and worthiness of spirituality in the so-called modern society. It is his intent to use the prayer as a vehicle to transmit the message that transcends the mere formulation of an apologetic thesis. Hence, Neidhardt seeks to penetrate the reader’s soul by presenting with a healing body of text, which he structures following two main themes: spiritual leadership and everyday human struggle against the corruption of the mind by the limitation to see beyond one’s physical strength.
Rituals, teachings, ceremonies and identities of the Aboriginal people were lost and neglected in the past. Even today, those of the culture continue to heal and strengthen from the consequences. In Louise Halfe’s poem “My Ledders,” a native woman addresses the Pope expressing her passionate feelings towards the traditions that were robbed of her culture, while pleading him to change the teachings back to the original way. In the letter the speaker writes as if she was speaking, using phonetic spelling and broken English, asking the Pope if he could use his power to retain the native culture, as the government may listen to him. Directly linking the losses of native traditions, customs and languages to the residential school system, the speaker uses orature combining a native dialect along with satire to express how the losses in one generation continue to affect the aboriginal identity in future generations.
At the Roundhouse theatre La boite in 2012 the play boy girl wall was performed by one man, Lucas Stibbard. The play is essentially a love story unlike what Stibbard says at the very beginning. The story is about a star-gazing boy, Thom, and a matchmaking wall, as well as Alethea the girl with the magpie after her. Along with a range of other characters, those three make up the title. This play’s didactic purpose to the audience is to make the audience overcome their fear. Stibbard effectively transmits this to the audience through conventions Brecht Theatre, such as V-effekt, Spass, Gest and multimedia.
In Salvation on Sand Mountain, the emotional frustrations, cultural hypotheses, and literary images provide insight into the ethics of the author, Dennis Covington. During his dangerous undertakings while submerged in the religious practices of Appalachia, Covington incites anxiety within the reader when discussing worship services involving snakes, and inquisitorial thought when revealing the number of casualties involved, in turn showcasing his own passions and morality. Covington’s rectitude, goodwill, and intelligence all play important roles in revealing his ethos. Subsequently, they also exemplify his argument: No obstacle can conquer one’s religious devotion.
Trauma, abuse, displacement, and feelings of alienation have, and is still plaguing the Aboriginal community. Author Eden Robinson and playwright Constance Lindsay Skinner address the displacement, mistreatment, and abuse the indigenous population has faced, and still faces, in Monkey Beach and Birthright. Both Eden Robinson's novel Monkey Beach, and playwright Constance Lindsay Skinner's Birthright deals with characters who are struggling with trauma and haunted with scars from the past. The authors detail these events and bring the reader into the “shoes” of the characters through characterization, imagery, dialogue, and through revealing intimate memories of the characters. These literary techniques enable the reader to see the parallel between the cyclical, ambiguous state of nature, and the ambiguity in humans and how there is a perpetuating, intergenerational cycle of violence caused by abuse and the mistreatment of the Aboriginal.
Stereotypes are common in the United States because people have different beliefs and ideals how they view others. The article "Ghetto Bitches, China Dolls, and Cha Cha Divas" by Jennifer Pozner demonstrates the negative racial and stereotypes use in the famous national TV show America's Next Top Model. She stated that a model was making a decision whether she was more tied to her ethnicity or her nationality. Given that this situation is becoming more important in America which makes the melting pot impossible to achieve. Tyra Banks, a former supermodel and the host of the show, yelled at a African America contestant is considered racialism to Pozner. For my consideration stereotypes are a way that build up and organize the society. Furthermore,
The novel Black Robe by Brian Moore, follows the stories of many individuals but places a focus on the characters, Father Paul Laforgue, a priest who came to America to become a martyr, Daniel Davost, a young Frenchman who falls in love with an Algonkin, and Annuka, the Algonkin woman who struggles between her love for Daniel and her love for her people. This narrative follows their journey from the fur trading center of Québec to the distant village of Iwanchou that is in desperate need for a new priest to replace the ailing Father Jerome. Along the way, each of these characters will face trials including the loss of the Christian faith, starvation, sickness, and even the threat of other Native American tribes such as the Iroquois.
Tomson Highway is a playwright of Dry Lips Oughta Move to Kaspukasing. The play is based on the real life of Highway as he was born as a full-blood Cree, lived in a Native community that takes place in Wasaychigan Hill, and registered as a member of the Barren Lands First Nation (“Biography”). Native people have their own culture and beliefs; unique language and mythology. Most of his plays use Cree and Ojib language and show the issue of the women power in the community. As the period changes, the Canadian government tries to implement a new system to ensure that native people can cope and adapt with the world that keeps changing. The government tries to assimilate Christianity and Western culture by forcing the kids to go to the residential schools. They are not allowed to speak their own language, Cree, and stay with their parents so that they have less time spend on having a normal family life. As one of the ways to preserve Native cultures and beliefs, Highway uses the play as a medium to express their hardship in facing social challenges by the government. Tomson Highway explain the uniqueness of Cree language, the value of women in Native community and how the government’s strategy on modernizing Native people leads to the destruction of Native cultures.
The play The Rez Sisters is written by one of Canada's most celebrated playwrights, Tomson Highway. Highway was born in 1951 in northwestern Manitoba. He went on to study at the University of Manitoba and graduated from the University of Western Ontario, with honors in Music and English. Native Literature is inspired by 'contemporary social problems facing native Canadians today; alcohol and drug abuse, suicide, wife battering, family violence, the racism of the justice system, loneliness, rejection, youth awareness, as well as modern-day environmental issues.';(P. 172 Native Literature in Canada.) Highway once said, 'We grew up with myths. They're the core of our identity as people.';(P. 172 Native Literature in Canada.) I am going to focus on the image and identity of Native people as seen through the play The Rez Sisters.
With grief also comes pain. Naomi suffering through sexual exploitation at the hands of her next door neighbor left her scared for the rest of her life, yet unable to speak on the ordeal. Along with molestation, Naomi also suffered through displacement, racism, and the interment of her people. Events that would have a serious effect on the psyche of someone still maturing; Injustices carried out against her family outraged her Yet she endures in silence, unable to speak, only able to question, ponder and forget; “If I linger in the longing [to remember her childhood], I am drawn into a whirlpool. I can only skirt the edges after all”, it’s clear that she wants to forget the past, yet ponders on whether or not to revisit it. Her two aunts serve as figures that contradict. At the start of the novel, Naomi shares the mindset of her Obasan; An Issei who employs silence in response to injustices and grief. However her aunt Emily does not accept the belief that the Japanese should endure through silence. She wants Naomi to reclaim her voice, follow in her footsteps and speak out against the hatred in the society. The media shames them, calling them the “Yellow peril” and a “stench in the nostrils of the Canadian people”, painting false images that glorify their internment which aunt Emily shows clear resentment towards. Naomi is reluctant to accept the idea that silence is restrictive. As she sees letters her aunt
On April 12, 2014 at 7:30 pm, I gratefully attended the musical Guys and Dolls at Ouachita Baptist University's auditorium. Directed by Daniel Inouye, this wonderful play is based on the story and characters of Damon Runyan. These stories which were written in the 1920s and 1930s, involved gangsters, gamblers, and other characters from the New York underworld. The premiere of Guys and Dolls on Broadway was in 1950 where it ran 1200 performances and won the Tony Award for Best Musical. The musical had many Broadway revivals and was even turned into a film in 1955.
In James Baldwin’s 1952 novel “Go Tell It On The Mountain” the characters in the novel each embark on a spiritual journey. Baldwin has dedicated a chapter to each member of the Grimes family, detailing their trails and tribulations, hopes and aspirations, as each one’s quest to get closer to God becomes a battle. I have chosen the character John because I admire the fierce struggle he endured to find his spirituality. I will examine how he’s embarked on his quest and prove that he has done it with integrity and dignity.
Born and raised in a family of storytellers, it’s no wonder that this author, Louise Erdrich became a prolific writer. Louise was born in Little Falls, Minnesota. She grew up in Wahpeton, North Dakota, near the Chippewa Reservation with her mom, who had Native American roots and her dad who was of German descent. Her parents encouraged and challenged her at an early age to read, also to write stories and even paid her a nickel for each one that she wrote. Lorena Stookey states that Louise Erdrich’s style of writing is “like William Faulkner, she creates a fictional world and peoples it with multiple narrators whose voices commingle to shape her readers’ experience of that world” (Stookey 14). Louise writes this moving story “The Shawl” as she is haunted by the sorrows of the generations of her people, the Anishinaabeg. I initially saw this tale as a very complex reading, but after careful reading and consideration, saw it as a sad and compelling story.
Several times, silence is oppressive due to the fact it stunts communication and relationships within the family. For instance, when Naomi is molested by Old Man Gower, in which he tells her to defer from telling her mother this information for obvious reasons. A. Lynne Magnussen observes the following: “Before Gower: knowledge between mother and child is antecedent to words. After Gower: the silence hides a secret betrayal” (Magnussen 8). This explains how Naomi’s relationship with her mother never became vocal, let alone overly vocal, before the secrets began with Old Man Gower. The weight of the secret strained the relationship, but Naomi was the only one who was able to recognize the situation since her mother had no part. Naomi herself describes the experience as a mountain splitting in half: “[Naomi’s] mother is on one side of the rift. I am on the other. We cannot reach each other” (Kogawa 77). In addition to this instance, the rest of Naomi’s story is also driven by oppressive silence in the government’s treatment to the Japanese-Canadians. They were evicted from their homes and businesses without any guarantee that they would see any of their possessions again. Eventually, this lead to the Japanese-Canadian community being forced into ghost towns to build up a new life. Their letters were
The play “God and the Indian”, written by Drew Hayden Taylor, is a story of reconciliation told through dialogue between two people. The main characters are Johnny, a middle aged Cree woman who grew up in a residential school and George King, who is an Archbishop and was a teacher at the residential school. The title of the play is relevant because the character Johnny doesn’t see how God could have allowed the horrible things to happen to the children and probably wonders where God was. The major theme of this play was reconciliation between a child who had been abused and the person she accuses of abusing her. The play describes some of the abuse of the children in residential schools and the long term effects on one of them.