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Themes In Indian Horse By Richard Wagamese And Sufferance By Thomas King

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Indian Horse by Richard Wagamese and Sufferance by Thomas King are two novels that tell stories about the Indigenous experience in Canada. Both books deal with similar themes that are developed through the use of key literary elements such as the concept of trauma and its lasting effects on individuals and communities, Identity, Cultural Heritage, Healing, Racism, and Discrimination, both novels approach these themes in different ways. Firstly in both Indian Horse and Sufferance one of the main topics is identity and the theme of struggling with fitting in society. Both books explore the notion of what it means to be Indigenous in a settler colonial society. In Indian Horse, the protagonist, Saul Indian Horse, struggles with his identity …show more content…

In Indian Horse, Saul encounters racism both within and outside the residential school, facing discrimination and prejudice due to his Indigenous heritage. “They took to more insulting name-calling and swearing at me. Even when they took to pushing me and tripping me and swiping at me when I passed, I'd just level a blank look at the offender and keep on with the work” (Wagamese 174). The novel underscores the dehumanizing effects of racism and its profound impact on an individual's self-worth. Similarly, Sufferance confronts the issue of racism through the characters, particularly First Nations individuals, who are constantly subjected to discrimination and prejudice. The protagonist, Jeremiah Camp, experiences racism in many forms, for example facing constant surveillance and scrutiny by the police. Thomas King also showcases the systemic racism in the Canadian legal system, where Indigenous individuals are not granted the same rights and protections as non-Indigenous people. The novel also discusses how colonialism and the residential school system have contributed to the ongoing trauma and marginalization faced by Indigenous communities. Overall, Sufferance highlights the pervasive nature of racism in Canada and the ongoing struggle for Indigenous rights and

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