Native

Below is a short sample of the essay Native. If you sign up you could be reading the rest of this essay in under two minutes. Registered users should login to view the essay.

Native
Literature

It is unfairly noted that Native Literature written by Natives offends many
readers with its discussion of the first-hand social ills affecting fellow
Natives. However, the typical stories of Euro-Canadian relations constructed
outside the Aboriginal thought imprisons all Aboriginals into stereotypes which
obscure and distort their very real experiences. The obligation of the Native
artist is to remain grounded in cultural soil and ideals, which is determined by
Euro-Canadian standards, while at the same time establishing a foundation of
justice and truth within the context of their work. Ian Ross has addressed many
of these social ills in his play fareWel. Using humor, characterization and
personal experience Ross depicts reserve life from outside the Euro-Canadian
perspective, as being hopeful despite the blatant despair and antagonism reserve
life contains. The Partridge Crop Reserve in Manitoba is a fictional place where
the fictional characters Melvin MacKay, Sheldon Traverse, Rachel Traverse,
Phyllis Bruce, Teddy Sinclair, and Robert Traverse, become muses through which
Ross uses to convey poignant information about the need for social reform for
social ills. The representation of the treatment of Native women throughout
history has been from a one-sided view. Either they were seen as unequal or as
royalty, resulting in being branded as squaws or Indian Princess by the people
who adhere to the Christian point of view. Ross seems to understand this
falsehood and attempts to rectify it with the creation of the characters Phyllis
Bruce and Rachel Traverse. They are both reserved based Native Women, who lived
a hard and fast life, but respect the church, however they are neither squaws
nor Indian Princesses. Phyllis is a single-parent who was beaten by her husband
but attempts to use this experience to strengthen Rachel by saying, "You
can hide in the roof here OK? That's where I used to hide so I didn't get beat
up" (pg.66). There are few options for Native, uneducated, and
single-parent women and Phyllis chooses to use her mind to fight the struggle
which emphasizes the significant role woman as mothers and providers are forced
to play. Also throughout the play Phyllis is constantly looking for a way to
feed her kids while in the same thought explores how to feed a church full of
people with "sardines" and "moldy bread" (pg.66). This
highly illustrates that despite the obvious misfortune that Phyllis is entwined
in she stills feels c...

The complete article is about 2331 words and 9.32 pages long.

To continue reading the complete article, subscribe below and get free instant unlimited access.

Once you have registered for an Account, No refunds can be issued.
Please make sure you look over the site before you purchase an account!!!