The historical fiction genre offers social commentary on society by giving us insight into people’s perspectives and social experiences in the past. We must listen to and learn from the social commentary given by historical fiction, because we can use it to help us build a better society. This is evident through the book “American Indian Stories,” by Zitkala-Sa and my personal experience. In the historical fiction “American Indian Stories,” Zitkala-Sa provides social commentary by illustrating her perspective of assimilation and observations of other Native Americans through fictional characters. For example, when the missionaries visit the young girl's house and she asks about red apples, the interpreter says, “Yes, little girl, the nice red apples are for those who pick them; and you will have a ride on the iron horse if …show more content…
In the book “American Indian Stories,” Zitkala-Sa shows us the consequences of assimilation through a young man from the Sioux tribe. For example, when the young man is sent back to his tribe to preach about Christianity, he says, “Wearing a foreigner’s dress, I walked, a stranger, into my father’s village.” (Zitkala-Sa 55). Being away from his home village, his ideology was altered and he didn’t feel like he was a person from this village. This is significant because it shows how much a person can change just by being somewhere other than where they came from. Another instance is when he visits his sick father and says, “Alike our throats were choked and tears were streaming from our eyes; but far apart in spirit our ideas and faiths separated us.” (Zitkala-Sa 56). This highlights the disconnect between the values and beliefs of his family and him. This is relevant because it reveals the cultural shift caused by cultural assimilation and the loss of cultural identity. In conclusion, Zitkala-Sa shows us the consequences of cultural assimilation through the young men of the Sioux