ipl-logo

The Role Of Grief In Richard Wagamese's Indian Horse

1029 Words5 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Narrative essay about grief

Grief is a complex and multifaceted emotion that is an inherent part of the human experience. It manifests in various forms, ranging from the death of a loved one to the loss of a way of life, and it impacts individuals differently. In Richard Wagamese's novel Indian Horse and James Joyce's short story Eveline, grief plays a significant role in shaping the lives of the main characters. Through their narratives, these works explore the nature and role of grief as a transformative force, influencing the characters' actions, decisions, and perceptions of the world around them. In Indian Horse, the protagonist, Saul Indian Horse, experiences profound grief throughout his life. As a young Ojibwe boy, he witnesses the traumatic loss of his family and community due to the ravages of colonization and the residential school system in Canada. This loss generates a deep sense of grief that impacts Saul's identity, spirituality, and mental well-being. He grapples with the painful memories and struggles to come to terms with the trauma of his past, leading to self-destructive behaviors as a coping mechanism. Saul's grief is palpable and pervasive, permeating every aspect of his life, as he tries to make sense of his identity …show more content…

It affects their perceptions, attitudes, and interactions with others. In Indian Horse, Saul's grief causes him to view the world with a sense of detachment and mistrust, as he struggles to reconcile his traumatic past with the present reality. He becomes guarded and skeptical, constantly questioning the motives of those around him. In Eveline, her grief and sense of duty towards her family bind her to her current circumstances, making her view the prospect of change with trepidation and fear. She is torn between her desire for freedom and her loyalty to her family, which shapes her perception of the world and her decision-making

Show More
Related
339 Words | 2 Pages

In "Indian Horse" by Richard Wagamese, a quote displays the theme of identity through the lens of cultural connection and heritage. Saul Indian Horse, the main character, heavily struggles with the complexities of his Ojibway identity, pending the intruding influence of colonialism. The quote really dives deep into Saul's inspiring journey, exploring his lineage and connection to northern Ontario's landscapes. Accordingly, throughout the chapters, Saul's heavily observed journey, in the quote, really goes deep into his lineage and the traditions of his people, connecting him to the landscapes of northern Ontario, and showing how his identity is heavily involved in the land, spirits, and stories of his ancestors. Moreover, the physical attributes

Read More
814 Words | 4 Pages

After reading Indian Horse by Richard Wagamese, I believe that it's apparent that in this hauntingly beautiful novel, Richard Wagamese takes readers on a heart-wrenching journey through the life of Saul Indian Horse, a young Ojibway boy. Unfolding in northern Ontario, Saul is set against racism, cultural alienation, and displacement. The novel weaves together themes of trauma, resilience, and the enduring power of cultural identity. The story starts off with us learning about Saul and his camp, and how he got the Indian horse name from his great-grandfather Shabogeesick.

Read More
1097 Words | 5 Pages

We, as humans, respond to stress and trauma in a variety of different ways. Some are negative, others more positive. In Indian Horse, readers may see that Saul Indian Horse is a complex character, with many different coping strategies. For example, Saul goes through sports, alcohol, isolation, and eventually communication. Each of which helps him cope during different journeys in his life.

Read More
641 Words | 3 Pages

People encounter many obstacles in their lifetimes, obstacles that are too arduous to overcome by themselves. They must find a way to get through these difficulties, and there is always something, or someone, that helps keep them sane through these hard hours. To Saul Indian Horse, the main character of Richard Wagamese’s novel Indian Horse, that obstacle is St. Jerome’s Residential School and the very element that kept him sane was hockey. In the residential school, Saul is abused both mentally and physically, witnessing the continued deaths of his Indian classmates. Fortunately, Saul was able to keep himself sane through hockey.

Read More
768 Words | 4 Pages

As the world somehow continues to spin, it is crucial to take a step back and create distance from the harsh realities of the world. In the novel Indian Horse by Richard Wagamese, Saul Indian Horse uses hockey to escape the abuse and cultural genocide from his residential school, while managing to make his mark in the game. The game of hockey plays a positive role in Saul’s life, as it shields him from the brutality of his residential school while allowing him to reconcile with his childhood. When abusive behavior rises at St. Jerome's and forces the children to follow the same customs, Saul needs something to differentiate himself from everyone else. Initially, Saul becomes horrified by the measures the kids go through to withstand the school

Read More
1032 Words | 5 Pages

In the novel Indian Horse, the readers see many faces of oppression occur, but marginalization occurs much more frequently than others. In the novel, marginalization operates among the other faces of oppression, each working together to amplify the alienation that Saul and the other characters experience. This demonstrates how the faces have a cumulative rather than individual effect. In Indian Horse, violence is a very common face of oppression that occurs throughout the novel, making a large impact on the characters.

Read More
1167 Words | 5 Pages

Analyzing the Roots of Saul Indian Horse's Abuse through Routine Activity Theory. What are the perfect conditions to commit a crime? This complex question demands a comprehensive analysis, taking into account the perspectives of both the perpetrator and the victim. In Richard Wagamese's 2012 novel "Indian Horse", the protagonist Saul Indian Horse endures devastating abuse at St. Jerome's Residential School. Father Leboutilier preys on Saul's vulnerability, manipulating it to commit atrocious offences against him.

Read More
1114 Words | 5 Pages

Through the Medicine Wheel, we are reminded of our lifelong journey that is continuous upon birth and living through youth, adulthood and senior years. In Richard Wagamese’s Indian Horse, the protagonist Saul experiences many obstacles which shape and develop his character. Saul’s life can be divided into more than the four stages of life to better understand his journey. Saul’s Life with His Family The time Saul was able to spend with his family was very short due to the effects of the white men.

Read More
1498 Words | 6 Pages

Fitting in and be accepted, but also not having a choice on who you are can be difficult. People can love you for one reason, and hate you for another. The protagonist, Saul Indian Horse from the novel Indian Horse, written by Richard Wagamese knows exactly what that feels like. He struggles with being an outsider and not being wanted his entire life. At some points, he is almost like everybody’s hero because of his great skills in hockey.

Read More
1188 Words | 5 Pages

The detrimental and unfair categorization of people by race, gender and more, commonly known as discrimination, affects many in society both mentally and emotionally. Many instances of this act of hatred occurred among Aboriginal and Native Canadians in the 20th century. However, for a little Native Indian boy stepping onto the rink, this is the norm that surrounds him. Saul Indian Horse, in Richard Wagamese’s “Indian Horse”, faces discrimination head on, where his strengths for hockey are limited by the racial discrimination from the surrounding white ethnicity. Consequently, this racism draws him into a mentally unstable state, where he suffers heavy consequences.

Read More
829 Words | 4 Pages

Author Richard Wagamese conveys a message in his novel Indian Horse displaying the idea of sacrifice. Specifically how people must sacrifice belonging for survival. Wagamese uses Saul 's experiences, choices and general story to express this message. Throughout Saul’s life he is forced to make sacrifices for himself and the people around him in order to survive, his isolation is what gets him through. Everyday people see the reproductions of community and how surviving isn 't an easy thing.

Read More
1856 Words | 8 Pages

(Indian Horse by Richard Wagamese). This quote also demonstrates Saul's growing awareness of his identity and the strength he draws from it, despite the trauma he has experienced. It shows his resilience in the face of adversity and his ability to find strength in his culture and heritage. The theme of resilience is explored throughout the novel, as in the ways in which Indigenous people have survived centuries of colonial policies and cultural genocide. Through their connection to their communities and their traditions, Indigenous people have found strength and perseverance in the face of trauma and adversity.

Read More
964 Words | 4 Pages

Initially, when Saul starts playing with his hockey reserve team, he experiences his first encounter with racism. While Saul is enjoying the game, he is suddenly kicked out of the team and remarks to Mr. Leboutiller the reason behind this is “‘because I am an Indian, isn’t it’ ‘yes’, he said” (Wagamese 91). At this moment, Saul is a victim of exclusion at a young age and recognises; not only in the residential school are Indians victims of discrimination due their appearance, culture and differences, but also outside of the residential school. Through his first encounter with exclusion, he slowly notices the segregation that surrounds him resulting in mental abuse because he becomes very cautious. After Saul leaves the residential school to live with the Kelly’s, he begins to play with the Moose.

Read More
747 Words | 3 Pages

First, in the novel Indian Horse, the main character, Saul, forms relationships with his community allowing guidance and support after his time at a residential school called St. Jerome. Saul discovers people who treat him well while directing him through the challenge of dealing with the remaining trauma experienced at St. Jerome. Saul is introduced to a family who refers to them as the Kelly family; they consider him part of their community. Saul makes use of their relationship to cope with the struggles of enduring trauma and develop as a person. Fred Kelly states “We all wanted to go out and find you, but we know we couldn’t.

Read More
791 Words | 4 Pages

When people are traumatized by an event they are pushed to experience the five stages of grief. The “Gospel”, by Philip Levine and “the boy detective loses love”, by Sam Sax both use characters that are going through one of the stages of grief. Levine and Sax both explain the thoughts and process of what a person thinks when they go through these stages with imagery. Levine uses symbolism, a sad tone, and a set setting in “Gospel” to illustrate that grieving takes you into a depth of thoughts. Sax uses anaphoras, an aggressive tone, and an ambiguous setting to convey that grieving takes you into a tunnel of anger and rage.

Read More

More about The Role Of Grief In Richard Wagamese's Indian Horse

Open Document