Joseph Boyden’s novel Three Day Road demonstrates how effective betrayal is at destroying our hopes and beliefs.
Both brief relationships involved a coming together of the two races and both of them ended in disappointment for Niska and Xavier, but not necessarily for the trapper or Lisette. Niska is betrayed by the French fur trader, a betrayal that echoes the betrayal of indigenous groups by the first colonists.
The French man reveals to Niska,” [He] took [her] ahcahk,” (Boyden 174). The French man attempts to take all that is important and dear to Niska as a human being. Niska’s story is a clear indication that she was used and betrayed by the Whiteman. Furthermore, the Frenchman feels satisfaction when,” [He] took [her] power away from this place and set it to burn in hell where it belongs,” (174). Because of this, her trust of wemistikoshiw men, is
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Xavier is filled with rage after discovering the truth of Lisette’s false love for him and say to Elijah, “I do not give a shit anymore, ‘I say in Cree’. Let the bastards shoot me.” (255). Due to the fact of Xavier discovering about Lisette and her job, Xavier no longer has a reason to continue. Before Xavier’s goal was to see Lisette once more and now Xavier has nothing to look forward to after Lisette’s betrayal of his trust. Xavier now loses the will to survive the war. After Elijah finds out about Xavier’s encounter with Lisette he is upset that, “[He] paid a lot of money for her time with [him]. If [he] knew [Xavier] was going to fall in love like a fool, [he] wouldn’t have done it.” (257). When Xavier is aware of her status as a prostitute, rather than healing Lisette breaks his heart. To make matters worse, Elijah knew the truth. Elijah with his friend. Ultimately, just as Niska had experienced with the Frenchman, Xavier feels deeply betrayed; deceived by his first love and his best