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The Crushing Impact Of Hockey On Saul In Indian Horse

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Nathaniel Pauls Mr. Galea ENG2D1 May 29, 2023 From Runway to Reality The Crushing Impact of Hockey on Saul in Indian Horse Hockey has played a significant impact on the lives of Canadians, becoming an essential part of The nation's culture and identity. In Richard Wagamese's novel, Indian Horse hockey plays a vital part in the protagonist of Saul's life. In the novel, Indian horse the author portrays hockey as an escape for Saul when in reality it is the cause of his downfall and Saul losing himself. Saul losing hockey was a devastating event that led him to fall into his pit of addiction and alcoholism. Sal turns to alcohol as a way to temporarily escape the challenges he is facing with hockey, and escape his emotional suffering, “I began to drink myself. I only know that when I did the roaring in my belly calmed.” (Wagamese …show more content…

Saul is turning to the bottle and going into the darkest thoughts and emotions that he has experienced, “I poured out a blackness that constantly refuelled itself.” (Wagamese 170). Sal is highlighting the consumption and dependence he experiences with his relationship with alcohol. Sal thought surrounding himself with the game would take out the intensity happening, little did he know that the game would soon be the door to his addiction, "The game was me alone with a roaring in my gut and in my ears." (Wagaemese 176). The profound effect hockey had on Saul's emotions and mental state. As Saul proceeded into the competitive world of hockey, Saul couldn't find his own senses and became an addict. Alcohol serves as a reminder of the resilience of Saul's human spirit and the profound impact it has had in his life. Saul initially sees hockey as a way to escape his trauma, becoming a source of anger and violence, “My bodychecks were hard, vicious and vindictive. I was bitter.” (Wagamese 165). Saul faced numerous

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