When Grizzlies Walked Upright Character Analysis

In “The Earth on Turtle's Back”, “When Grizzlies Walked Upright”, and the biblical Adam and Eve creation story, the female characters are labeled similarly as almost entirely dependent on their masculine counterparts and defined clearly as weak, naïve, defiant to father figures, but also the determined creators of life. For example, In the Modoc tribe's “When Grizzlies Walked Upright”, the only significant feminine character is described as the Chief of the Sky Spirits' "youngest daughter". At first glance, the innocent phrasing "youngest daughter" would seem benign and insignificant until one considers that the only other important character was given a name, despite her role as the centerpiece of the entire story. Instead, this title is employed

Though this idea is not specifically mentioned in the story, it is clear that this plot twist acts as a consequence of her poor judgment all while contrasting with her husband’s inferred “wisdom”. Unfortunately, while one is unable to know what occurred immediately after, it can be assumed that she never reunited with her estranged husband after their metaphorical divorce. In “When the Grizzlies Walked Upright”, despite taking part in creating entire new intelligent species, the Chief of the Sky Spirits’ becomes enraged at his long-lost daughter because he could not take credit and glares her to death before throwing her over his shoulder and marching her back up the mountain to their home. The ending of this particular myth attempts to teach women in their society to follow in the lead of their male tribe members or risk certain failure and subsequent penalty, either by Fate or their tribe. Despite the female characters’ mostly unfavorable characterization, they are also written in a good light as their role as the staunch catalysts of progress and the mothers of