Green Grass Running Water #2

Part 1:

“The Indian who couldn’t go home. It was a common enough theme in novels and movies. Indian leaves the traditional world of the reserve, goes to the city, and is destroyed. Indian leaves the traditional world of the reserve, is exposed to white culture, and becomes trapped between two worlds. Indian leaves the traditional world of the reserve, gets an education, and is shunned by his tribe. Indians, Indians, Indians. Ten little Indians.” (286 – 287) In this passage, it becomes clear that Eli is very troubled by his relationship with his culture and home. It had been hard leaving his native reserve, but resisting the temptation of returning to Alberta got easier after every passing year. At the end of this quotation the phrase, “Ten Little Indians” is used. This is a popular nursery rhyme that is still sung today. It is a clear reference to popular culture and the stereotypes related to Indians (who clearly aren’t actually from India).

“In the distance, at the edge of the horizon, Babo could see a point of light, a star in the morning sky.” (235) This is a very apparent biblical allusion to the Star of Bethlehem. In the Bible, this star leads the three wise men to a barn where Jesus’ birth is taking place. In the novel, it leads Babo and Dr. Hovaugh to the four Indians. Babo has a strong understanding of the situation as it unfolds while the Doctor does not. This comparison between Jesus and the Indians shows the importance of these four individuals in this novel.

This allusion to pop culture directly relates to the previous biblical allusion. Right before seeing the star in the morning sky, Dr. Hovaugh comments on the comfort level of riding in the Karmann-Ghia. “He had forgotten how uncomfortable the Karmann-Ghia was on a long trip, how every bump telescoped up through the steering wheel, shaking his arms and shoulders, how road noise rattled about the cavity of the car, leaving him with the vague feeling of being trapped inside a casstanet.” (235). The Karmann-Ghia is a popular culture allusion to Christopher Columbus’ Santa Maria. As commonly known, Christopher Columbus and his team took part in a bold expedition to an unknown continent. Likewise, Babo and Dr. Hovaugh are experiencing a trip to an unknown country, Canada.

“That woman who wanted a baby. Now, that was helpful.” (416) Coyote is referring to Alberta and the baby that he impregnated her with. This is a very similar situation to the Virgin Mary birth of Jesus that takes place in the Bible. Both Alberta and Mary’s children were not conceived normally, but by a higher being. This is very significant in Alberta’s life because she has always wanted a baby, but never expected to finally have one.

A very repetitive popular culture reference throughout the novel is the western film character, John Wayne. John Wayne is nothing short of a role model for Lionel. This is seen when he is as young as six. “By the time Lionel was six, he knew what he wanted to be. John Wayne. Not the actor, but the character. Not the man, but the hero.” (241) John Wayne is a very significant part of Lionel’s life partly because he looks like the white man he wants to become. This clearly goes against the teachings of his Indian traditions, but he truly believes that being white is superior to his Indian background.

Part 2:

Eli Stands Alone:

“And in a rather perverse way, Eli had come to enjoy the small pleasures of resistance, knowing that each time Duplessis opened the gates a little too much or turned on the light a little too late, it was because he was there.” (260)

This quotation shows that Eli not only feels the need to protect his cabin and heritage, but enjoys the resistance and annoyance he causes Duplessis. Eli has always kept a stubborn attitude throughout his encounters with Duplessis, but this quotation shows his pleasure in his actions. It has been clear during the entire novel that one day the dam was going to open, but everyday that this was delayed was a small victory for Eli.

Lionel Red Dog:

“’Today,’ he shouted at the mirror. ‘Today things change.’ And he whacked himself in the stomach and grabbed his saggy chest for good measure. He stood there naked, glaring into the mirror, pleased with the fire that burned in his eyes. Just above his left nipple, Lionel spotted the mole with the single long hair growing out it.” (240)

This quotation comes in the morning of Lionel’s 40^th birthday. He is truly fed up with the embarrassment that is his day-to-day life. This passage shows his newfound grit and determination that have not been especially evident until this point in the novel. However, his constant displeasure with his appearance brings his self-conscience attitude to the surface as usual.

Coyote:

“Up ahead, at the end of the alley near the entrance to the store, Lionel thought he could see a yellow dog dancing in the rain.” (279)

Nearing the end of a long walk to work, Lionel sees coyote in the distance through the rain (which was caused by none other than the same yellow dog). This proves coyote’s existence in flesh to both me as the reader and Lionel as an unsuspecting pedestrian. I was unsure of coyote’s true existence in the novel until this quotation and it helped me further my understanding of the unfolding plot.