King Solomon from the Bible once said that “there is nothing new under the sun.” Every original idea is simply a reworking of a previous idea, with some “originals” having more of the old idea and some less. This concept is especially true for Native American authors, such as Louise Erdrich in her book Tracks, who draw upon ancient stories, legends and culture to give depth and color to their more contemporary writing. One example of how Erdrich expanded upon a previous idea to create an original is found in the character of Nanapush, who, while exhibiting certain trickster-like qualities, has been changed so that he is not a true trickster figure. In many ways, Nanapush exhibits trickster qualities. For one, he enjoys playing pranks upon people. This delight is evidenced by his consistent teasing of Pauline, when she comes to live with Fleur and her family after entering a convent. For example, Pauline had decided that she would only go to the bathroom two times each day. Nanapush, whether knowing or guessing such, decided to trick her into going more than her self-imposed two times. First, he gave her a lot of tea so that her bladder would be full. Then, he told a long story involving many uses of the word water. The result was that Pauline went to the bathroom more than two times that day. A second trickster-like quality that he exhibits is his reliance upon his wits. Like coyote, Nanapush does not use brute strength to achieve his end; instead, he uses his mind. An example of this quality is shown after Margaret’s head is shaved. Unlike Fleur, who enacts revenge through her power, Nanapush lays a trap for one of the Morrisseys, thus revenging Margaret through means of cunning instead of strength. The third way that Nanapush h... ... middle of paper ... ...ch a figure may be written into a story from a third-person perspective, but never from a first-person one. Too much of a character emerges, whether intentionally or not, through first-person narration—too much emotion, too many fears and sorrows and joys, too much individual personality. A first-person narrative automatically makes the narrator appear simply human, and characters who appear simply human are neither mysterious nor stock. In her book, Tracks, Louise Erdrich uses the old idea of a trickster from which to base the character of Nanapush. However, while exhibiting many trickster-like characteristics, Nanapush is not actually a trickster character—he is too human to have such a title. In Nanapush, Erdrich creates a character that is an old idea reworked to create an original one and, in the process, proves that there truly is “nothing new under the sun.”
The point of view also gives the readers a better insight about the interworking of a character’s mind. For example, when Father Benito is telling Huitzitzilin ‘[t]his is not your sin. It was his alone. I know that in my country a man would have done the same to a woman, but still, it is his sin, and not the woman’s. May I ask you to forgive him now so that the anguish might disappear (53)?.
The effect of the first person point of view is a lot more deep because you are seeing everything
In Louise Erdrich’s The Round House and Arundhati Roy’s The God of Small Things, events from the past are used to develop the characters and plot lines in the novels. In The Round House, Mooshum’s stories of the windigoo that he tells in his dreams, the subplot involving Linda and Linden Lark, and the apparent negativity towards Catholicism shown on the reservation show the pervasive influence of the past on the present. In The God of Small Things, the inclusion of Pappachi’s moth throughout the novel, the constant referencing to the Love Laws, and continuing problems involving race relations show how much of an influence the past has on the present for the characters and the plot.
Often, when a story is told, it follows the events of the protagonist. It is told in a way that justifies the reasons and emotions behind the protagonist actions and reactions. While listening to the story being cited, one tends to forget about the other side of the story, about the antagonist motivations, about all the reasons that justify the antagonist actions.
Shirley Jackson has a creative way of writing her short stories and uses a surplus of literary devices to make us readers feel how she wishes. For instance in both short stories “The Possibility Of Evil” and “The
Point of view is one of the single greatest assets an author can use. It helps to move the plot along and show what is happening from a character’s perspective. An author can make the plot more complex by introducing several characters that the reader has to view events through. The events can then be seen through different eyes and mindsets forcing the reader to view the character in a different light. From one perspective a character can seem cruel, yet, from another, the same character can seem like a hero. These vastly contrasting views can be influenced based on the point of view, a character’s background, and the emotions towards them. The novel Love Medicine by Louise Erdrich showcases some examples of events seen from different points
Point of View – 3rd person limited. This is significant since there are many important characters, so first person wouldn’t show enough of the story.
...er to her affectionately as simply Natalie. In fact, it seems strange to refer to her as merely the author of a narrative—she has most assuredly transmitted her being through her writing, most definitely made a connection. There are few times when she outwardly addresses the reader, so when she does, she calls attention to the importance of the event she is describing. “Understand,” she implores, causing the reader to sense the urgency and the great impact of what she is describing. When she describes Rinpoche as “fluid energy” (87), she wants readers to know this was really how she experienced him. Hers was a vital discovery, one of experiencing people. Natalie reaches readers. She cannot be disconnected from her work because hers is the breath we capture.
To some, tricksters may only be thought of as weak figures from Native American or African American tales who are seeking an objective and find creative ways to outsmart their opponents. However, there are many accounts of people in American literature that can be compared to tricksters. Olaudah Equiano and Phillis Wheatley are two of these people. Both Equiano and Wheatley use their creative abilities in an effort to accomplish a unified goal: abolishment of slavery. In The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, or Gustavas Vassa, the African, Written by Himself, Olaudah Equiano emulates a trickster because he is disadvantaged in comparison to his foes (slave owners), but ends up victorious. Equiano’s actions parallel that of
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.
An author’s way of writing and portraying a character are one of the important things to note when reading a novel. Whether they use third or first person as their view point, have their main character have an underlying dark secret that is not revealed until the end of the novel. However an author wishes to write their novel, there is always a drawback to it. Kazuo Ishiguro’s way of writing his novel Never Let Me Go is in a first person perspective where the narrator, Kathy H., reassess her life of being a clone but the way Kathy remembers and discusses her memories of living in Hailsham is hindered by the fact she inputs her own feelings and thoughts into what happened in the past.
...g and appreciation of qualities of characters, and hence, a deeper understanding of underlying motives and psyche. Intricate and methodical characterization is crucial to grasp the full meaning of a narrative.
To create living people should always be the goal in literature. It is how a writer can illuminate a new facet of existence and can only be achieved through the use of a sympathetic imagination. Hemingway erred however, when he argued, “A character is a caricature” (153). A caricature may be a character sometimes, but it may also be a fully realized and living person at others. As in Watchmen, when a caricature lives, it can be an extremely powerful thing.
The use of first person narration limits the reader to the perspective of Withencroft, so the reader only knows as much as he does. The narration also allows the reader to know Withencroft’s feelings. “A sudden impulse made me enter” (Harvey 385), moments such as that in the story show Withencroft’s feelings. This expands the reader 's knowledge of the story, because the actions of the narrator are explained. In the previous quote, the inside knowledge on the character lets the reader know why the character went inside. This, again, expands the understanding of the story. The limited view and Withencroft’s feelings create a shady view in the story. “Then a cold shudder ran down my spine.” This is another sentence that seems simple. It is, yet it adds to the story. By including small details like this, the author not only broadened the reader 's knowledge of the story, but made it more enjoyable. The first person point of view also helped the story more personal to the reader. This made the story more enjoyable, because at the end of the story the feeling of suspense is greater, and the reader was hoping that the main character would not be killed. The first person view gave the reader more comprehension of the story, made it more enjoyable, broadened their knowledge on the story and let the reader connect and feel closer to the
Breaking down point of view in stories can be helpful in determining the central idea, as the two concepts typically support one another. An author such as O’Connor has the ability when writing narrative to use whichever point of view they feel best portrays the story they are telling in the way they would like readers to understand it. By including and excluding certain bits of information, the author can present the story the way they choose, with the option to leave as many or as few subtle or obvious details within the narration as they would like to reveal to