EXTRA EXTRA, READ ALL ABOUT IT! "Lucky Buster Saved by Perverserving Tuscon Pair!"
The concept of a semi-traditional family relies on the two primary caregivers to provide for their offspring. It also requires that these caregivers remain bonded, and have a continual mutual respect and/or affection for each other. If a family does not have the two primary caregivers, it becomes a negotiated family of sorts.
It should be stressed that the concept of the stated “semi-traditional family” is societal based. As in, our modern society deemed it to be standard. There was a time when a village raised families as a collective. And within this type of family, the historic culture of the people consumed each member’s daily life.
Annawake Fourkiller believes that the Native American people must live in the families of their ancestors. Regardless of how modern society has failed their groups of families, their tribes. There is a moment in which Fourkiller remembers her aunts who “lived in one house, and could never agree on anything in this world except that love is eternal.” (pg. 226)
Taylor Greer believes that family revolves around a group of nomads bonded via circumstances. This is how Taylor encounters an infant Turtle, and how Taylor has become the only mother that Turtle has ever known.
This difference of opinions leads to two very dynamic characters in Pigs in Heaven, struggling to assert each other’s views upon the other.
As discussed during class this Tuesday, Taylor states to Annawake: “My home doesn’t have anything to do with your tragedy.” (pg. 95) Whereas I agreed with Taylor’s point of view, I also felt myself retract with classmate’s Andrea’s statement.
Andrea talked about how that was not a good response because even though Taylor may have personally never had anything to do with the depletion of Native American reservations; she must realize that to Annawake the seizure of land and its aftermath is still reciprocating.
Reacting upon this, I began to read Barbara Kingsolver’s novel quite differently. Even though Kingsolver did not make Annawake the villain of the story, I was beginning to view her as the evil lawyer that wants to take a child away from her mother because of personal vendetta.
But now it could be viewed that Taylor is the villain. As she became some sort of fugitive (well, especially with Barbie—the casino robber) and has been seeking an avoidance of Annawake rather then a dialogue. Rather then seeking upon a compromise, Taylor sought out martyr-dom.
A few classmates in this blog have talked about Jax. One edited their original praise of Jax after his promiscuity with his landlord. Another questioned whether or not real people like Jax excited, as Jax seems to be consistently “witty.”
Jax rocks. Imagine Kingsolver’s novel without Jax. It just would not work. He is also the most mature of characters in my opinion, owning up to his indiscretions almost immediately. And someone, absolutely someone had to play the role of sweet and goofy.
Finally, the topic of culture came upon class discussions. Annawake wants Turtle to see her Native American culture. Taylor figures that Turtle may do so on her own time.
Culture is what a persona uses to identify with their heritage. Some may choose to go balls-out with their culture. They may choose to wear traditional clothing, their hair in traditional braids. Others may choose to acknowledge their culture in a different way.
In other words, culture is a person’s individual choice. How one identifies with their lineage is their choice. No one should ever have the authority to state: “If you are not doing such and such, you are not part of your ethnicity.”
Adults are in general, opinioned and assholes. If Turtle were ever given the option I am sure it would something along the lines of: going home to Arizona and making junk food experiments with Jax.
It should be stressed that the concept of the stated “semi-traditional family” is societal based. As in, our modern society deemed it to be standard. There was a time when a village raised families as a collective. And within this type of family, the historic culture of the people consumed each member’s daily life.
Annawake Fourkiller believes that the Native American people must live in the families of their ancestors. Regardless of how modern society has failed their groups of families, their tribes. There is a moment in which Fourkiller remembers her aunts who “lived in one house, and could never agree on anything in this world except that love is eternal.” (pg. 226)
Taylor Greer believes that family revolves around a group of nomads bonded via circumstances. This is how Taylor encounters an infant Turtle, and how Taylor has become the only mother that Turtle has ever known.
This difference of opinions leads to two very dynamic characters in Pigs in Heaven, struggling to assert each other’s views upon the other.
As discussed during class this Tuesday, Taylor states to Annawake: “My home doesn’t have anything to do with your tragedy.” (pg. 95) Whereas I agreed with Taylor’s point of view, I also felt myself retract with classmate’s Andrea’s statement.
Andrea talked about how that was not a good response because even though Taylor may have personally never had anything to do with the depletion of Native American reservations; she must realize that to Annawake the seizure of land and its aftermath is still reciprocating.
Reacting upon this, I began to read Barbara Kingsolver’s novel quite differently. Even though Kingsolver did not make Annawake the villain of the story, I was beginning to view her as the evil lawyer that wants to take a child away from her mother because of personal vendetta.
But now it could be viewed that Taylor is the villain. As she became some sort of fugitive (well, especially with Barbie—the casino robber) and has been seeking an avoidance of Annawake rather then a dialogue. Rather then seeking upon a compromise, Taylor sought out martyr-dom.
A few classmates in this blog have talked about Jax. One edited their original praise of Jax after his promiscuity with his landlord. Another questioned whether or not real people like Jax excited, as Jax seems to be consistently “witty.”
Jax rocks. Imagine Kingsolver’s novel without Jax. It just would not work. He is also the most mature of characters in my opinion, owning up to his indiscretions almost immediately. And someone, absolutely someone had to play the role of sweet and goofy.
Finally, the topic of culture came upon class discussions. Annawake wants Turtle to see her Native American culture. Taylor figures that Turtle may do so on her own time.
Culture is what a persona uses to identify with their heritage. Some may choose to go balls-out with their culture. They may choose to wear traditional clothing, their hair in traditional braids. Others may choose to acknowledge their culture in a different way.
In other words, culture is a person’s individual choice. How one identifies with their lineage is their choice. No one should ever have the authority to state: “If you are not doing such and such, you are not part of your ethnicity.”
Adults are in general, opinioned and assholes. If Turtle were ever given the option I am sure it would something along the lines of: going home to Arizona and making junk food experiments with Jax.
posted by sau at 11:41 AM
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