Relationships In Medicine Walk By Richard Wagamese

Relationships within life come and go;, however, it is those individuals that help you discover who you are. In the novel Medicine Walk by Richard Wagamese, Franklin Starlight's relationships with past, and present individuals is explored. This reveals that we explore our identities through relationships, even if they are complex, and the ways in which we might repair relationships also develops our character. Throughout the novel Frank learns more about his family history, which will forever change the way he looks at life, but despite these challenging circumstances Frank has faced, he turns out to be a good kid, with great qualities. The author demonstrates his character development through his relationships with his biological father Eldon,

While Frank discussed his childhood with Eldon, Eldon shared that “... Bunky’s try’n teach you Indian things even though he wasn’t no Indian himself” (230). Regardless of not being blood related to Frank, Bunky does his best to connect Frank to his roots of being a part of the Ojibway tribe. Bunky has the best intentions of Frank growing up learning about his identity, and culture which shapes who he is as a person. Likewise, Frank expresses to Bunky that “[He’s been his] father all these years” (243). This depicts that it doesn't matter if they are blood related or not, that Bunky is just as important to him as Eldon is, if not more important. If it wasn’t for Bunky raising him he wouldn’t be the person he is today, and likely would have grown up in a completely different environment which may have threatened his opportunities of learning about his culture. This proves that the people who surround you help influence the person you become, and they provide opportunities to you that would possibly not be available if it were another person raising

After Frank returns home to Bunky, Bunky asks him if “[He] ever see[s] her in [him]? Near every day.” (233). Despite never having met his mother he still has developed some of her characteristics in which those who once did know Angie can see. Although Frank can’t see it himself he does have his mom's characteristics in him. In a way he is the person he is because of his mom. Comparably, “There was a hole in his history and there was nothing that would ever fill it” (223). This demonstrates that Frank will have to live forever missing a part of his story, but that shapes him into the person he is, so in a way it is a part of his story. If his mother were to survive the birth of him he would have grown into a different person because of the different experiences he would have had. This reveals that even when people are not in your life they can still have an impact on the person you