Analysis Of Green Grass Running Water

Serina Fischer

CIS Literature

Hour 6

Western Movies in Green Grass Running Water The mythology of the Western world, old fashioned Cowboy versus Indian movies plan a major factor in people’s subconscious views of Native people. Green Grass Running Water by Thomas King attempts to reverse these tales of oppression and sheds light onto the view that is rarely represented- the view of the Indians. For any lover of classic Western films, it is only natural that the Indians are the bad guys of the story every single time. However, the characters of the novel, especially the young and innocent ones, felt the after effects of the negative stigma surrounding their culture due to cowboy versus Indian culture. Thomas King knows the power of this

The four old Indians go around with the intention of fixing the old Western movies and so they bring to life the in color and anti-war Westerns of the 1970’s. The movie the Indians alter was a reference to the 1970 film Little Big Man, which was original in displaying the Indians as the good guys. As soon as the four Indians start making changes to the traditional Western film, “Everywhere was color” (357), and Eli states, “Thought it was supposed to be in black and white” (359). The Indians become successful in this version of the movie and Charlie finally gets to see his Dad be a hero. Portland leads the Indians into battle and Charlie hisses, “Get ‘em Dad” (358). Finally grown, Charlie and Eli witnessed how the four Indians were able to fix the movie so that finally can see their people as the winners and the good guys, not just people to crucify and slaughter. The only person who didn’t have a positive reaction was Bursum, the white store owner. Upon seeing his own culture threatened, Bursum rages, “Well, something sure as hell got screwed up” (359). Bursum’s rage on the surface appears to be directed at the faulty T.V.s, but the underlying reason is that he doesn’t like seeing the tables turned and having someone that represents his culture destroyed. For Lionel and Charlie, though, seeing their culture fairly represented really was one step to fixing the