Indians: Analysis of Major Characters
"Indians: Analysis of Major Characters" delves into the complexities of key figures in the context of American Indian history and Wild West mythology. Central to this exploration is Buffalo Bill Cody, a performer whose dual identity reflects both a fascination with and a contradictory treatment of Native American culture, as he oscillates between portraying himself as a friend of the Indians and acknowledging his role in their suffering. Sitting Bull, a prominent Indian chief, emerges as a proud but disillusioned figure who seeks justice for his people, illustrating the tension between indigenous rights and government policies. The analysis also highlights characters like John Grass, who advocates for treaty rights, and Wild Bill Hickok, who grapples with the commercialization of their shared history. Politicians such as Senators Logan, Dawes, and Morgan represent varying attitudes towards Native American issues, ranging from respectful acknowledgment to condescension. The narrative reveals a rich tapestry of interactions between these characters against a backdrop of cultural misunderstanding and historical conflict. Through these dynamics, the work prompts reflection on the legacies of colonialism and the ongoing struggles for recognition and justice faced by Native Americans.
Indians: Analysis of Major Characters
Author: Arthur Kopit
First published: 1969
Genre: Play
Locale: The Wild West and Washington, D.C.
Plot: Protest
Time: The second half of the nineteenth century
Buffalo Bill Cody, a boasting Wild West hero and performer in florid buckskin clothes. At times presenting himself as the friend of the American Indians and at other times proudly telling about his killing of Indians and of buffalo, he is an unstable character. Buffalo Bill fails both to bring the Ol' Time President to Sitting Bull's Indian reservation and to enhance mutual understanding between Sitting Bull and the senators. He experiences feelings of guilt for having shot so many buffalo and for having deprived the Indians of their traditional way of life. After unsuccessfully speaking out for the Indians in negotiations with the senators, he ends up justifying the government's Indian policy.
Sitting Bull, a disillusioned but still proud, powerful, and cunning Indian chief who formerly appeared in Buffalo Bill's Wild West show. Sitting Bull considers himself a friend of Buffalo Bill, whom he does not blame for the injustice done to the Indians. He formerly killed General Custer and now lives on a reservation. He asks to see the president, the Great Father, to demand that the whites fulfill their side of the Indian treaties. In the negotiations with the senators, he asks that Indians get all the comforts and wealth enjoyed by whites and insults the president's representatives, an act for which he is killed, by order of the government, in the massacre by Colonel Forsyth's army. After his death, Sitting Bull briefly reappears, reaffirming his pride and his friendship for Buffalo Bill.
John Grass, an Indian in Sitting Bull's reservation who has been educated in a white school. In the negotiations with the senators, he calmly demands that the whites give the Indians what was agreed on in treaties, explains that what the Indians have so far received from the whites is inadequate, and affirms that the Indians were forced into signing these treaties.
Wild Bill Hickok, Buffalo Bill's longtime friend and fellow performer in the Wild West show. Initially, Hickok, out of self-respect, refuses to impersonate himself in Ned Buntline's simplistic Wild West melodrama, Scouts of the Plains, but in the end, the prospect of financial gain makes him suggest to Buffalo Bill that a Wild West show be performed simultaneously in different places by numerous Buffalo Bill replicas.
Ned Buntline, a sensationalist journalist and photographer, author of Scouts of the Plains. He strives to make Buffalo Bill famous through newspaper articles and Wild West shows and is killed by Wild Bill Hickok, who is dissatisfied with the misrepresentations in Buntline's show.
Ol' Time President, the Great Father and childish president of the United States. Although he and the first lady enjoy the Wild West show performed in the White House, he is not willing to follow Buffalo Bill's request of negotiating personally with the Indians. He thinks that little can be done for the Indians, and he does not see in such negotiations an opportunity for increasing his fame.
Senator Logan, a reasonable politician sent by the president as one of his representatives to negotiate with Sitting Bull. He respects the justified demands of the Indians but does not fulfill them.
Senator Dawes, a condescending politician sent by the president to negotiate with Sitting Bull. He blames the Indians themselves for their predicament.
Senator Morgan, a politician sent by the president to negotiate with Sitting Bull. He treats the Indians as the White Father's children who must be protected from themselves.
Spotted Tail, a disillusioned Indian of mixed tribal ancestry and a friend of Buffalo Bill. He accuses Buffalo Bill of killing buffalo that he will not eat, and he is later shot by the Grand Duke Alexis, who mistakes him for a Comanche.
Chief Joseph, an old Indian chief whom Buffalo Bill had released from prison in exchange for Chief Joseph's agreement to deliver, in Buffalo Bill's Wild West show, the surrender speech that he originally had given in the battle with General Howard.
Colonel Forsyth, a proud colonel of the U.S. Army. He justifies his army's massacre of Indians, in which Sitting Bull is killed.
Grand Duke Alexis, an insensible and thoughtless Russian duke who is visiting America. After meeting with and listening to Buffalo Bill, he wants to hire Buffalo Bill as his bodyguard to protect him from his many enemies. He gives Buffalo Bill a medal for shooting one hundred buffalo with one hundred shots and kills Spotted Tail out of a desire to be like Buffalo Bill.