One of the indicators of an outstanding work of literature is the author's use of symbols. In Part Two of Montana 1948, Watson presents several symbols. Among them are Julian Hayden's log house, the magpie that David kills, the wedding trip, the wind, the coyote mentioned in Marie's final words to David, and the reverie that David has of the Native Americans walking up Circle Hill. Select one of these images and discuss what you feel it symbolizes and how it adds to the story's plot, characterization, and theme. CATCH: You must comment on what the person prior to you has said, but you may not focus on that symbol. You must move the discussion to another symbol. I will begin the discussion. (The deadline to post a response to this blog is midnight, Friday, September 27, 2013)
One of the indicators of an outstanding work of literature is the author's use of symbols. In Part Two of Montana 1948, Watson presents several symbols. Among them are Julian Hayden's log house, the magpie that David kills, the wedding trip, the wind, the coyote mentioned in Marie's final words to David, and the reverie that David has of the Native Americans walking up Circle Hill. Select one of these images and discuss what you feel it symbolizes and how it adds to the story's plot, characterization, and theme. CATCH: You must comment on what the person prior to you has said, but you may not focus on that symbol. You must move the discussion to another symbol. I will begin the discussion. (The deadline to post a response to this blog is midnight, Friday, September 27, 2013)
3 comments:
I have told you many times that I see symbols in ordinary things. It is through symbolism in literature that I am fully submerged in a story. The symbol in the Part Two that took by breath away was David's dream of the Sioux gathering on Circle Hill. Dreams are nothing more than our sub-conscience revealing itself, and in David's dream, he sees Indians from the Reservation climbing Circle Hill to mourn Marie. David is afraid that the Indians might seek revenge on the people of Bentrock. Really, this implicitly refers to the tragedy of the American Indians. They are the oppressed minority and are unable to seek the justice they deserve. David sees them dressed like ordinary people – having lost their rich heritage. They are not ready to come down to the town with war cries as in the movies, but are just ‘milling about’. They are impotent in bringing about any justice for Marie or themselves. They have no one to fight for them and cannot fight for themselves. This dream symbolizes not only their victimization, but David's realization that someone, perhaps he, has an obligation to provide them with justice. By having David dream of social responsibility, Watson is showing the metamorphosis of David's character from a child living in a world of "the Wild West" to a man living in a world of injustice, prejudice, and deliberate cruelty. Watson shouts from the mountain top the need for those who can to do for those that can't do for themselves.
I agree that the dream of the Sioux gathering on Circle Hill represented their revenge on the white race. I also think that the part where Marie mentioned the coyote was a symbol that the coyote important. David's grandfather told him to shoot any coyote he saw. Marie must have looked for the coyote before but not to kill it. They represent the First People, members of a mythic race who first populated our world and lived before humans existed. These coyotes also were used in fables told by the Indians. The coyotes mirrored the lives of most people and represented survivors in the past.
I didn't know that about coyotes! That's very interesting! Speaking of animals, the magpie scene is very powerful. This reveals a TON about David in a few short paragraphs. He kills an innocent bird, without the slightest thought, "as if pointing a finger." We realize David has some darkness in him too, but this passage is powerful in more than one way. It does give the reader plenty to chew on about David, but what foreshadowing! David, a Hayden, thinks nothing of the death of a sweet bird called the magpie, he kills it! Then his Uncle Frank, a Hayden, kills a sweet innocent women named Marie! Killing songbirds is often looked upon as evil and needless, and that is exactly what this passage represents for David, and for the upcoming events in the story.
Post a Comment