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What Is The Theme Of The Story Borders By Thomas King

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This is a critique of the story of “Borders” by Thomas King. Laetitia and her brother had mixed blood with an American father and a Canadian mother. At age 17, Laetitia left home because “she was going to Salt Lake City as life was too boring” in Blackfoot. This is a story of both identity issues for mixed races and pride of country. Although they are Blackfoot, they are made to feel like “Indians without a country” and expected to identify as either Canadians or Americans. Laetitia appears to be struggling with the issue of identity. Her brother is equally confused about their history and was surprises to find out that “we got Blackfeet on the American side and the Canadians got Blackfeet on their side” too. This is because Blackfoot is an Indian tribe located on the 49th Parallel. It is a line of latitude that forms the western part of the border between Canada and the USA. (49th Parallel 2016). When Laetitia decided to leave home, she says “Dads American” and “I can come and go as I please” almost as if she was trying to justify going to America. She did not want to hurt her mother’s feelings as “pride is a good thing to have” and she is so proud to represent Blackfoot. Proud …show more content…

She barely spoke directly to her son and barely answers any of his questions. When Laetitia’s brother turned 12yrs, mother announced they are going to Salt Lake City to visit Laetitia. On their way to Salt Lake City, mother appeared confident as she drove to the border, she “drove slowly as if she were trying to see through a bad storm or riding high on black ice”. She seems nervous. When they got to the border and the officers asked her citizenship, she proudly said “Blackfoot”. After several unsuccessful attempts by the officers to force her to choose between being either American or Canadian, she insists she is

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