While reading this book I found many of the same issues with it that Michael Dorris did, while he was reading it to his young daughter. The first thing that struck me was how open and out right Ma was with her racist views of the Indians. Also that the neighbors seemed to have the same view points. Looking past this, the next thing that struck me was that one of the main characters had the authors first and middle name as her own. Granted, if I were to write a novel I would want to live on forever also and might grace a character with my name.
But, it is the foreshadowing in the beginning that is most important. Ma was continually implying that the Indians were something to fear and not interact with. There is a mood instilled that the Ingalls's shouldn't settle on the prairie. It seems to be a bad idea and the novel proves this to be true. Their neighbor almost dies, helping them dig a well, everyone in the family catches malaria, they are robbed at least two times by local tribes, the prairie catches fire, and they are eventually forced to leave. These events prove that settling on Indian Territory and not a few miles down, was the wrong decision.
This novel also reminded me of the rules Locke had for children. It seemed that Laura was always disobeying her parents and enforcing the idea that her actions were what "not to do." While her sister Mary, followed their parents orders/directions and was the "good daughter." This seemed to be a way to educate children and teach them manners without them noticing. A final thought that I had while reading Little House on the Prairie was why didn't the pack of fifty wolves try to eat the family? The wolves had at least two opportunities to attack them and never once tried. Is it a symbol for the way the Indian's never attacked them?
Roz, it's no coincidence that the main character is "Laura Ingalls"--Laura Ingalls Wilder wrote it about her own childhood! (Wilder was her married name.)
ReplyDeleteInteresting idea about the parallels between the wolves and Indians. What do you think it says about the way the Ingalls family felt about the Native Americans whose territory they were squatting in?
I like the idea of the wolves being a symbol of the Native American's, who never attacked them. It could be a commentary on the unnecessary fear of the Native Americans that the Ingalls had. While there could have been danger, like wolves can be dangerous, with out tempting them or provoking, no danger would come to them.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you when you said the first thing that struck you was Ma and her out right racism towards the Indians. People fear what they do not understand and Ma was a perfect example of this. The more and more Laura cries to see a papoose the more aggravated Ma becomes of her. I did'nt know why if this is supposed to be a book that teaches a lesson overall to the child being told the story, why include so much racism towards them or the unknown.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure wolves bother humans other than growling, we don't seem like their prey.. Also, when it comes to the mood and not wanting to settle on the Prairie I think the uncertainty of not knowing the future affects these things. As kids we like to feel comfort and stability in our lives and big changes are never welcomed with open arms
ReplyDeleteI agree that the first thing that struck me was Ma and her outright fear of the Indians as if they had done something to her personally. It seems as if Pa was the only voice of reason. All the settlers wanted was to be rid of the Indians and it was a surprise at the ending when the settlers were the ones who were being booted off the Indians territory. As far as the wolfs being a symbol, I hadn't thought of but it is an interesting observation.
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