Summary Of Love Medicine By Louise Erdrich

Questioning Tradition

Typically, the phrase higher power is associated with that of a god-like figure. When thought of as such, this power is not directly accessible to an individual character within a story. The phrase ‘higher power’, however, could be used to refer to many different forms of power. Throughout the short story, Love Medicine, by Louise Erdrich, higher power becomes a term associated with selected types of power. Specifically, Erdrich uses spiritual powers such as Christian religion and Native American cultural beliefs to act as sources of power beyond that of the characters within the story. Importance is placed in both the distinction between and combination of Christian and Native customs. Erdrich also bestows Lipsha, the

At the beginning of the story, it is quite clear that Lipsha believes in the power of his touch. “… because I got the touch. It’s a thing you got to be born with. I got secrets in my hands that nobody ever knew to ask. (275). He believes that he is born with a power that is exclusive to him, and he is able to use it to heal the ailments of those around him. He also states that he is unable to use the touch on his grandfather, indicating that he knows that there are limitations to the power he possesses. It also establishes a connection between Lipsha and his Grandpa exemplified by the touch. This connection resurfaces at the dinner table after Lipsha’s Grandma had slugged Grandpa between his shoulder blades. “I done everything in my power that I could do to unlodge what was choking him. ... My touch had gone worthless, that is true (287).” This finality of the power of his touch has significant meaning in two ways – the first is that this again shows the failed connection between the power of his touch and his grandfather, as he is unable to save him from choking to death. This also illustrates the fact that he has lost faith in another form of higher power. While the failure to connect with his grandfather was always a limitation

The differentiating factor about this power is that Lipsha seems to be in disbelief of its powers from the start. While he initially has good intentions about being able to reconcile his grandparent’s love, he continually makes excuses that leave the reader to draw the conclusion that he does not believe in the power of this ritual. “My face was aching. I was chilled, so I played with fire. I told myself the old superstitions was just that – strange beliefs (283).” While stating that he has been hunting for the geese for a significant length of time, he gives up on the hunt after just missing two accurate shots. His readiness to abandon the traditional way of obtaining power – and simply buying frozen turkey hearts from the store – indicates that he does not fully believe in the power of this tradition. In a similar manner, he quickly abandons the attempt to get the turkey hearts blessed. After attempting to get both a Father at the mission, and Sister Martin to perform this blessing, he again decides to abandon tradition. “For as I walked out the door I stuck my fingers in the cup of holy water that was sacred from their touches. I put my fingers in and blessed the hearts, quick, with my own hand (286).” The speed with which he again abandons the traditional ways shows that he does not truly believe in the higher power of the love