Alexander Macdonald Analysis

“There are some facts and perhaps some fantasies that change with our own perceptions and interests” (MacLeod 20).

To most people, their history helps define them as a person. Often times, we have a skewed perception of our own history. A huge part of Alexander MacDonald’s identity is centric to being a part of clan Chalum Ruidah. Growing up Alexander was referred to as, ‘ille bhig ruaidh, a Gaelic nickname that stayed with him his entire life. The entire MacDonald family, including both sets of grandparents truly believes in the importance of storytelling in order to become aware of your past. Alexander reflects on his family’s history as he meets his brother and in the end, takes his brother to die. Alexander, even as a grown man, seems

Outside of clan Chalum Ruidah which incites distant relatives to assist Alexander when he is in need (and vice-versa), but within his close family they often take immense care of one another. Conversely, in the past of the MacDonald family, in 1779 when Catherine MacPherson fell ill, only two relatives stayed. The rest came out of the shadows and said things such as “Perhaps you’re making a mistake,” or “the future is uncertain” (MacLeod 22). The MacDonald/MacPherson family did not have that same support structure that the contemporary MacDonald’s do have. The shift in family structure could be due to extenuating circumstances that came with the geographical move from Scotland to Canada. Ordinarily, when most Gaels moved from Scotland to Canada, they felt a loss of identity but it does not seem as it the MacDonald’s did. One of the greatest aspects of cultural identity is centric to the language of which you speak. Interestingly enough, Alexander states that “we were of the generation who were no longer beaten because we uttered Gaelic” (MacLeod 19) which brings to the surface the validity of Alexander as a narrator. Later on, Alexander details how his grandparents would speak in Gaelic to one another behind closed doors in their bedroom at night, almost as if it was the only place they could speak it with a feeling of safety. Alexander’s understanding of his family

He even admits that he was a child being spoken to as if he were an adult when he “would probably be more interested in eating cookies” (MacLeod 25). The amount that his grandparents told the stories of the clan is almost as if they are trying to shape Alexander and his siblings into being Gaelic. For example, being called ‘ille bhig ruaidh as a child, was no doing of his own, the dark tales of Gaelic immigration, etc. As a child, you look to your guardians for guidance as you grow and mature. Alexander’s grandparents could have been “grooming” him into being very Gaelic, even if they were not doing so in a malicious