The Antelope Wife: Naming in Native American Society

     Unique identities have been the subject and topic of discussions throughout this course. The Antelope Wife was no different in establishing characters with a very special, and individualized place in the world, particularly in their culture. However, a key part that I found to be rather interesting is the way in which the characters were named, and the weight that was placed on such identifiers. Of course, Native American names are often different from the names of other ethnicities and cultures, as they incorporate the environment and outside world a lot more than just a name that sounds "good" or "fits" a person. But, in Erdrich's novel, the idea of how one is named is explored, showing that the establishment of one's identity is more complex than a mother and father bickering over what their child should be named upon arrival into the world.
    On page 14, the experience of Blue Prairie Woman is discussed in terms of how she came to be named. It seems that people of this culture are named after maturation and the initial development of an identity which is then directly reflected in the name. This allows for the name to be more like a title of a book; it provides a brief synopsis of what a person is like, enjoys, or values when compared to others. The key, however, in naming someone, is that the namer, an outside party, is responsible for this task, which I believe is both helpful and harmful. Since the namer is liminal in gender and identity, the namer is able to see a person more clearly for who they are and wished to be perceived as; but I think that this could be misinterpreted. Not everyone is good at expressing themselves initially, so it seems unfair that they do not have at least some part in the fashioning of their own name. The only time a person has a part in their naming is when they take it upon themselves to change, resulting in the need for an updated name to be established for better communication.
     Overall, I found this tradition to be very special as it upholds a person's name as far more than a source of fun monikers. Names are supposed to be the very essence of one's identity and bring everyone onto similar levels of knowing themselves, as well as knowing others. No, these names do not reveal all information about a person, but they do provide each person with a unique sense of self and purpose that names like ours, fail to accomplish.

I- Hotel: Storytelling

     The section begins with the characters together trying to make their way to Alcatraz Island so they occupy it in political protest for the unequal treatment of Native Americas as well as other minorities like Asian Americans.  The way the story is set up begins with the characters together helping a man named Jack Turtle launch his boat into the water to get himself across, Ria, Stony and Wayne have all come for the protest and wind up helping Jack. This is how all the characters initially meet and get acquainted. They make it to the island while Jack is storytelling the tale of Captain Jack (378). Ria is skeptical of the story, suggesting she does not believe in myths and beliefs giving her the appearance of being a realist (379). The purpose of the storytelling here is foreshadowing of the events that will take place later on such as the unsuccessful occupation, (Captain Jack was hanged after unsuccessful relations with the 'white man'), the injury Jack Turtle receives in the head and neck area, and lastly the escaping of a few of Captain Jack's followers and the protesters on the island (who, according to Jack Turtle, is the reason he is there today).  

    The next section moves forward to what Ria does while she is a student sewing and dress making. This moment is included in the novel to exhibit the strength of the characters and personal struggles for survival, particularly with Ria, "killing herself" with work (338). Ria must kill herself sewing clothes in order to survive and have money to feed herself, she is also trying to better herself by teaching others about business and running one. "It's funny how these things happen, how suddenly one collar leads to the sleeves and to the pockets, a range of sizes- small, medium, large, and extra large, plus fabric choices and slight stylistic changes," (385), this explains how beginning a project can quickly give a head under water effect when being stretched out in too many directions. The business must produce new designs and clothing, deal with a union and low wages, Ria educating her coworkers on the history of the U.S. as well as business all become extremely taxing on her. Her business fails but she moves onto her next project or possibly returns to school, she dealt with the hardship unable to stop because her ethnicity  and young age are working against her. 

    Chapter Three follows the path of Stony, a younger wander of sorts, and Jack but only long enough for Stony to leave Jack and sell his car. Stony saves Jack when he finds him on the ground bleeding from his head, and takes him to the hospital. When Jack wakes he gives Stony the task of selling his car and offers to let Stony keep half. Stony seems hesitant about his new responsibility because he has a youthful and aimless personality. Once Stony completes the task for Jack, Jack tells Stony about a dream he had about Stony that included a certain "fate" of being in Japan as well as a broken head (394). Stony does travel to Japan as predicted by Jack's dream and we assume his head breaks when he travels to his late father's village to discover his father's wife before his own mother and a half sister (398). Stony probably did not expect this at all when he went to the village partly to his immature mind and the lack of knowledge of his family's history. This is Stony's age working against him as he struggles with his multi-cultural ethnicity.   

       

Under the Feet of Jesus: Family Structure

I find it interesting that in every book we have read it has always been the father figure that is off in some way.  Wether he is an adopted sort of father, or nonexistent all together. They always seems to be a mother figure who is there and in the forefront for the entire novel but a shakey father figure.
      The same applies to this novel as we learn that the father ran off on them long ago and Perfecto, although he has made it perfectly clear that he is not their father, takes that fatherly figure place.  Throughout the entire book Perfecto has one foot out the door.  He says repeatedly that he is not their father, and we as the readers catch him planing his escape from the family multiple times.  When it comes down to it, however, Perfecto is a permanent part of the family.  Even when he is irritated the twins can being to play with his hands and this gentle touch soothes him in an odd way. It seems like he tells himself he isnt their father, tells everyone else that, and plans his escape all in a desperate attempt to not feel stuck in the family.  By having one foot out the door and always looking into the past and thinking into the future rather than being in the present, Perfecto thinks he is giving himself options.  When it comes down to it, however, he may not be blood related but his loyalties lie with the family.  He knows and understands that they need him, and I believe he truly needs them as well.  He could never actually make that move to leave them because wether he is ready to admit it or not, they are his family.  He is always thinking of his past and wanting to go back home, but he is older now, nothing is there for him back home, is whole life, wether he likes it or not, lies with this adopted family,