What Is The Theme Of The Short Story Borders By Thomas King

Victoria Olugbemiro
Mr. Frost
NBE 3U1
19 May 2023
Divisions Formulate Identities of Juxtaposition Why is society racist? Colonization has thrust standards and regulations that force individuals to assimilate and be hesitant to act when they are put into a singular demographic. Indigenous peoples in specific receive the brunt of identity discrimination as history has chosen to neglect their opinions and attune them to Western mannerisms. In the short story, “Borders” by Thomas King, a young boy is witnessing the aftermath of his sister deciding to take the risk of leaving the reserve to make a life for herself in Salt Lake City. A while after her leaving, he and his mother go to the American-Canadian border with hopes to visit his sister.

Moreover, as a personality receives acceptance by society, a sense of liberation and belonging follows since society dictates one’s emotions. Through the use of several elements, the short story illustrates that assertive confrontation is crucial when facing social adversities in order to maintain one’s culture and heritage. To begin, the point of view of a situation influences the deeper connection one has with the scenario. Society has the misconception that youth must be seen and not heard which causes a delay in the formation of one’s identity. In the story, the son provides a helpless frame of reference as he is unable to aid his mother in convincing the guards to let them cross. “[He] explain[s] to the guard” that they are willing to claim both their Indigenous and colonizer identity “but [the guard] sa[ys] that d[oes] n[o]t count because [he] [i]s a minor” (King 3). Adults being the only form of advocating for children makes them powerless and voiceless. Parents may subconsciously pressure youth to see the world solely through their viewpoint which taints their children’s independent perspective. Children abiding with an individual who purely speaks their mind can cause them to harbor feelings of embarrassment as they crave to mimic others to feel a sense

Initially, Laetitia is angry when her mom is questioning her choice of leaving the reserve, giving rise to the notion that societal pressures may force people to leave the only place they know. Tensions arise since Laetitia’s mother is “just angry because [she] wants to see the world” which is destructive to her self-esteem just after she makes a huge life decision (1). Growing up in a single area for the entirety of one’s adolescence hinders a person's capability to move on emotionally and develop their independence. Individuals must take initiative in order to branch out and teach themselves the true way of the world without the filter or parents or mentors. Laetitia chooses to make her mark on the world as her mother puts up a protective barrier to shield her child from the terrors Indigenous peoples face in the city. Although the mother presents a strong-willed character, she also breeds a level of insecurity when dealing with conditions outside her realm of experience. Growing up on a reserve has taught her that interacting with colonizer’s is not in her best interests. The mother believes that although the “[c]ity place sounds too good to be true”, she still convinces herself that the family “[has] everything right [t]here” at the reserve (5). An important step in coming of age is building connections with one’s peers and environment. A person