Summary Of Eden Robinson's Traplines

Eden Robinsons short story “Traplines” illustrates the struggles of an aboriginal upbringing surrounded by white culture. The principal character is an aboriginal adolescent who surrounded by poverty, substance abuse, and violence. Throughout the story Robinson relies heavily on characterization, specifically Mrs. Smythe. The portrayal of Mrs. Smythe helps develop the theme which illustrates the differences between aboriginal and white culture in Canada.

Mrs. Smythe is described from the beginning of the story in a flattering light. Will’s thoughts portray her as a woman who radiates warmth and positivity. She is introduced by Will imagining her saying “the trees here are like ones on Christmas postcards, tall and heavy with snow” (4). He

Smythe’s characterization to describe the physical environment where white people typically live. The way Mrs. Smythe keeps her household, filled with plants and pictures on the wall, projects a feeling of hominess and comfort. He shares his memory of her house, “the lawn was neat and green and I only saw one dandelion” (10), signifying a perfect place to live and emphasizing the care taken to look after it. Mrs. Smythe walks up to him smiling, carrying a hotdog, “her blue dress swayed as she walked” (11). The reader learns of the relaxed ambiance felt in her presence and shows the ease of having something to eat on hand; the privileges of being a “townie.” His family home feels empty, and cold; his parents are hardly home, and the wood stove is always going out leaving it freezing. On the reserve, Will does not experience the consistent nature of grocery shopping, as the predictable Mrs. Smythe “always gets groceries” (35). The challenges aboriginal culture faces to meet even the most basic needs is apparent through Will’s glorifying of Mrs. Smythes simplest behaviors to do

Smythe is shown as a person who is caring towards others, especially Will. Robinson uses her characterization to demonstrate how white culture cultivates healthy choices, and highlights the failure of aboriginal parents to protect their children from engaging in harmful behavior. When his friends Tony and Craig show up at the Smythes house intoxicated, she notices and brings them aside to address the situation. Substance abuse is a normalcy in his village so it is widely accepted among his peers, where as in ‘town’ such behavior is not tolerated. The first night that Will stayed over at the Smythes house, his parents failed to answer the phone and care where he was. Mrs. Smythe “would kill me, then she’d go after you” (13), Mr. Smythe says when Will wants to hitch a ride home. These examples show he vast differences in ability between white and aboriginal culture to be there to guide and protect their youth from unsafe risk-taking