Although Tommy Orange’s There There is written as a novel, the stories told in the book reflect the truth of life as a Native American. Orange utilizes the prologue and interlude to educate the reader about the harsh history of Native people in America. The prologue gives a brief recount of 500 years of genocide and displacement, most of these topics glossed over by history books that are taught in schools. The prologue recounts the story of the original Thanksgiving meal shared by Indians and European settlers, saying “It was a land deal meal. Two years later there was another, similar meal meant to symbolize eternal friendship. Two hundred Indians dropped dead that night from an unknown poison” (Orange 4). This story of Thanksgiving is vastly different from the version that is taught to young American children. I was shocked to find out the truth behind the relationship between the European settlers of the 1600s and the Native Americans. I think that Orange was deliberate in providing an element of shock within the prologue because it grabs the attention of the reader as the novel begins. The prologue also gives a background of the hardships faced by Native people hundreds of years ago, which explains why current Native populations still face issues such as alcoholism and drug abuse.
I interpreted the novel as neutral in tone due to the
authenticity of the characters’ stories. Although the history stated in the
prologue is dark and somber, the story itself comes across as realistic. Tony
Loneman has fetal alcohol syndrome, which he calls The Drome. The hardships
that come with The Drome start to fade away as he embraces his Native culture. When
Tony puts on his regalia he says, “I looked at my face. The Drome. I didn’t see
it there. I saw an Indian. I saw a dancer” (Orange 26). His culture is displayed
positively in this scene which shows that being Native can also bring joy and a
sense of self to Native people. The history of Native Americans is dark, but
the novel also shows a rich and joyous culture.
I thought it was interesting that the novel ends with a
tragic event. The buildup to the powwow throughout the book demonstrates its
importance for each character as a joyful celebration of culture. The gunfire
and death that takes place seems to erase all of the happiness that stems from
Native culture, and instead gives another example of a downfall of being
Native. I think Orange includes the tragedy at the powwow to show that Native
people will continue to face hardships due to their race. The prologue serves
as a brief history of this prejudice, while the final scenes show the ongoing
struggles of Native Americans.
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ReplyDeletePosting blog post as comment!
ReplyDeleteSophia Hottois
HON H-234
Professor Evans
October 28, 2021
Storytelling
In Tommy Orange’s There There, Dene Oxendene collects the stories of other people, yet he never tells his own story. After the death of Uncle Lucas, Dene deals with his grief by finishing his uncle’s project. Before he had passed away, Uncle Lucas had been creating a film which culminated the life stories of other Oakland residents.
Dene, like Uncle Lucas, is a very passionate storyteller as his goal is tell the ultimate story of his community’s rich history. He explains his goal by saying, “What he did, what I want to do, is to document Indian stories in Oakland…. What I want to do is pay the storytellers for their stories. Stories are invaluable, but to pay is to appreciate” (Orange, 33). Dene wants to provide the world with the “Urban Indian story” (33). He wants to change the stereotypical sad Native American stories that are portrayed in the film industry. Dene plans on making this change by showcasing the true passion and emotion of his people’s current experiences onto the big screen.
The whole purpose of Dene’s project is to show the raw emotion of his people, yet he struggles with his own raw emotions since his uncle’s death. Towards the end of the novel, Dene comes to the realization that his own story is important to the culmination of the Urban Indian experience. Additionally, Dene believes his uncle would have appreciated the sincerity of a contribution from Dene himself. On page 239, “Dene believes this kind of realness is something his uncle would have appreciated. This unflinching stare into the void of addiction and depravity, this is the kind of thing only a camera can keep its eye wide open for.” Dene wants to show the real Native American experience. However, after speaking with several of the members of his tribe, Dene is weighed down by all of the painful experiences and stories he has collected that he does not share a story of his own. His stare into addiction and depravity symbolizes all of the stories that have come before his own.
Orange is arguably working through Dene Oxendene as Dene collects the stories of Urban Indians that define his youth, similar to what Orange is doing as he conveys the Native American experience by writing this novel. Native Americans have a sad and painful history. However, it is crucial to their culture and society to tell their stories to the next generation. Through Dene, Orange emphasizes how stories are vital to keeping culture, tradition, ideals, and heritage alive.
Orange emphasizes the importance of modern stories that Native Americans are living through, while simultaneously relating them to the past. In the novel, Dene is seen as a vehicle between those that are Native American and the general public, because of his desire to help others understand the true challenges faced by Native Americans in the modern day. I agree with the fact that Dene is seen as taking on his Uncle's role to tell the stories of Native Americans to others that are beyond the stereotypical stories seen in society. In the novel, Dene takes over the project that his Uncle created and further expresses the true feelings of Native Americans through the Urban Indian experience. Additionally, I like how you stated that at the end of the novel Dene feels that his Uncle would be proud of him yet he also chooses to not share his own story. Orange emphasizes the modernity and current struggles of Native Americans, from addiction to gentrification in their communities, the struggles are now beyond what the stereotype depicts of them. Finally, I like how you included that Dene's image in this project is meant for future generations as well as it helps to keep the culture and traditions intact within the Native American community, despite the modern changes.
ReplyDeleteThe prologue did a very good job setting the tone for the story as a lot of people are not educated in Native American history the way that they should be.
ReplyDeleteComing into this class I did not realize how little I knew regarding Native American history. In fact, at first I felt embarrassed to say how little I knew until I realized that I was not the only one. I knew that what we were told about Thanksgiving is not the correct story and was further educated in the prologue that it lead to an event a couple years later that lead to an event where after their meal, "two hundred Indians dropped dead that night from an unknown poison" (Orange 5). By reading this prologue, I was also given context on many other incidents of violence against Native American culture.
The quote that you used from page 8 where it talks about Massacre proves the foul treatment that the Native Americans faced, and how awful as a whole how awful we were to them. I think that this was a very important part of the story because without it, we can't understand the background of suffering that this group faced as a whole. This is context that we need to know, not only for the purpose of the book, but for ourselves to be educated on something we should have learned in the past.