The Importance Of Truth And Bright Water

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Literal and figurative borders can restrict and control many aspects within the lives of people all over the world. All people should be able to make the decision of where they wish to settle, start a family, and eventually die as a happy and fulfilled human being. The idea of travelling or living in a different country other than where you were conceived and brought up is a dream many people aspire to in era, but all wander-lusting souls should have the opportunity to make that dream a reality and find happiness and a new home in an unfamiliar city or country. The issues with this can vary widely; sometimes there can be issues with obtaining legal immigration papers while moving across countries or maybe financially they are not ready to …show more content…

Throughout the entire novel, King emphasizes the attributes of the physical setting over everything else. The geographical location of Truth and Bright Water forms a border that many aboriginal residents find hard to overcome, including Tecumseh’s mother Helen. Helen is a romantic dreamer who would love to travel the world but never really has the financial means to do so. Truth and Bright Water both reside in remote prairie regions, so in order to travel to any of the ‘big cities’ is a struggle for the inhabitants. She was “thinking of leaving Bright Water and moving to Toronto or Vancouver” (151), but when Elvin heard “he got concerned”(151) and bought her a car, the Karmann Ghia, to please her. The Karmann Ghia is a symbol that has two different meanings; to Elvin the car is an anchor trying to hold back Helen, whereas Helen perceives a chance to break away. The sports car is given as a present for Helen in hopes she will stay happy in Truth and Bright Water if she has the ability to drive herself around. Elvin expects the car to hold back her wish to leave him and Bright Water by giving her hope she will one day, when the car is fixed up, have freedom. The Karmann Ghia to Helen is a ticking clock counting down to when she receives independence. The car also emphasizes the lazy habits of Elvin because of his procrastination. Generally, a sports car connotes a fast and steady speed, which is ironic because of Elvin’s slow pace in repairing it. This symbol is significant because it highlights the restrictive border of geographical location that holds aboriginal residents in Truth and Bright Water. Without freedom of transportation, the native inhabitants are trapped in one isolated

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