Impressions of Zitkala Sa's (Gertrude Simmons Bonnin) narrative. What do you see as the overall message in this portion of text?
The impression I got from this reading was of Zitkala's innocence and the beginning of that innocence's end. In section 4, The Coffee-Making, Zitkala attempts to show the warrior kindness and hospitality and acts as she thinks is best, but her naivety and lack of experience causes her to mess it up. Also, in section 3, The Beadwork, she recounts how she used to chase her own shadow, not realizing the connection between her movement and its fleeing. This innocence is what causes her to trust the palefaces. She forgets her mother’s warnings of them from the beginning (that they caused her uncle and sisters death) and begs to be allowed to leave with them. (I found it ironic that the translator was tempting her with apples – almost like Eve and the snake.)Upon leaving with them she begins to be afraid, comparing herself to ‘a captured young wild creature.’ (pg. 1019)
Also I felt a big message was that of community and tradition, which like her innocence is beginning to fade.
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