Indian Affairs: Analysis of Major Characters
"Indian Affairs: Analysis of Major Characters" explores the complexities of identity, grief, and community through the lives of its central characters, primarily Chris Van Eeananam, a Lakota Indian navigating a pivotal moment in his life. As Chris and his wife, Ellen, retreat to a lakeside cabin for his dissertation work, their strained marriage is marked by the emotional aftermath of losing their son and Ellen's struggle with her family's history. Chris's journey of self-discovery is intertwined with his attempts to engage with young Native Americans and confront his own denial of heritage.
Ellen's character reveals her internal battles as she grapples with her grandmother's oppressive influence and her own feelings of failure, particularly after her pregnancy loss. Meanwhile, Beau, a young Native American who embodies both intellectual curiosity and disenchantment with societal norms, serves as a mentor to Chris, highlighting the cultural divide within their community. The narrative also introduces Gaylin, a troubled youth whose destructive behavior stems from feelings of abandonment, adding a layer of tension and urgency to the story.
As these characters navigate their relationships and confront their pasts, themes of identity, accountability, and the impact of loss resonate throughout their experiences, ultimately leading to personal growth and renewed connections. This analysis provides insight into the characters' motivations and struggles, fostering a deeper understanding of the broader socio-cultural landscape they inhabit.
Indian Affairs: Analysis of Major Characters
Author: Larry Woiwode
First published: 1992
Genre: Novel
Locale: Upper Michigan
Plot: Psychological
Time: The 1970's
Christopher (Chris) Van Eeananam, a Lakota Indian on his mother's side. He has gone with his wife, Ellen, to upper Michigan to complete his dissertation. They are staying in the lakeside cabin owned by his wife's grandparents where they had spent their honeymoon seven years ago. Chris had worked at a brokerage house in New York before he decided to go back to school to obtain a Ph.D. in literature. He has just turned thirty and is at a critical juncture in his life. His relationship with Ellen is strained because she is still grieving the loss of their son and has not been able to conceive again. As Chris examines his past, he realizes that all his life he has tried to deny his heritage and tried to pass as a white man. He befriends a group of young Native Americans with an intent to educate them and occasionally buys beer for them. When two of them, in a drunken state, beat an old patriarch on the reservation, Chris feels guilty and refuses to oblige them any more, thus earning their animosity. Through his old friend Beau, Chris meets an activist group planning a protest against development of Indian land. His own past catches up with him as one of his female acquaintances attempts to draw Ellen away from him by involving her in a feminist group. When Ellen is endangered, first by the prowling neighboring youths and then by Gaylin, who sets their cottage on fire, Chris realizes how deeply he cares for her. It also becomes obvious to him that Ellen still loves him. Clear of his doubts and ambiguities, he is able to concentrate on his writing. He is ready to return to New York, this time certain of his own identity and ability to assume responsibilities.
Ellen, who was brought up by her grandparents after her parents' death in an accident. She feels consumed by the tragedies in her young life. Her grandmother had disapproved of Ellen's father, and Ellen suspects that her parents' car accident was a suicide pact. Grandmother Strohe, an ardent Christian Scientist, does not like Ellen's choice of Chris either. Having lost her baby and unable to have another, Ellen feels a tremendous sense of failure. As Chris works on his dissertation, she writes her own book based on the journal she had kept while grieving for her dead son. As she and Chris spend two months in the secluded cottage away from the comforts and conveniences of city life, she has time to reexamine her feelings. A sensitive, intelligent woman, Ellen sees how her grandmother has warped her personality and poisoned her relationship with Chris. She does not approve of Chris's involvement with the young Native Americans but is perceptive enough to realize his need to sort out his own mixed feelings about his identity. Her discovery that she is pregnant again helps her to redirect her life. Armed with her love for Chris and the unborn baby, she is ready to confront her tyrannical grandmother and take control of her own life.
Beau, a young, educated Native American. He never earned a degree but is well read and is able to provide Chris with stimulating intellectual companionship. He lives alone outside the reservation and makes a living by cutting wood for fire. He is disenchanted with the establishment and desires to live a simple life, as his people did. He is, however, more like his hippie contemporaries than he is willing to admit.
Gaylin, a fifteen-year-old Native American brought up by his grandfather. He yearns for the mother that he never had, and his anger and sense of betrayal turn him into a pyromaniac. He has set several fires in the community, one of which ended in the death of an elderly man. He elopes with the young woman who was living with Beau. Fortunately, Chris, Ellen, and Beau escape unhurt when Gaylin sets fire to their cabins.
Art, the owner of the general store. He represents mainstream condescending and patronizing attitudes toward Native Americans. Unaware of the fact that Chris is one of them, he often gives him unsolicited advice on how to behave with the residents of “Pocahontastown”—his name for the reservation.