Tommy Orange's There There is a book that tackles the multiple-perspectives style of story writing, in which an interconnected cast of characters each gets a reasonable amount of time within the spotlight, such as to highlight their own unique pasts and presents. However, Orange also switches between First, Third, and even Second person perspective between chapters, seemingly with no rhyme or reason. I believe that these shifts in perspective are meant to help the reader empathize with each of the characters presented, and show just how different yet interconnected their lives are.
The writing of There There has an air of being told stories about other people to it. This feeling is reflected in how Dene himself records stories and accounts from Native Americans in Oakland. In his introductory chapter, he pleads his case to get his project funded: "I want to bring something new to the vision of the Native experience as it's seen on the screen. We haven't seen the Urban Indian story" (Orange, 40). He records the stories that other Natives within Oakland give to him, and compensates them for it. Their stories, their perspectives, are worth more than just a short amount of listening. They're unique. And Orange shows this to the audience by having some chapters be in the first person, others in the third. While we get to see the pasts and presents of all of the characters, and, to varying degrees, their feelings about them, it is clear that those stories told in the first person feel more personal.
Tony, the first character introduced in the book, tells the audience about his own feelings of otherness, due to "The Drome" and his identity as a Native American. Because this story is told in the first person, the last few sentences hit quite hard: "I looked at my face. The Drome. I didn't see it there. I saw an Indian. I saw a dancer" (Orange, 26). Here, Orange shows the reader that for some, connecting with one's culture is how Native Americans can feel more of a part of something. By having this story be recounted to us by Tony, we are primed to empathize with him and his life, just like we would be if we watched Dene's interviews. This creative choice, being supplemented with the third person chapters, makes me at the very least feel like I'm being given stories of all kinds about a community. Anecdotal stories that, together, tell an even bigger one. However, I would also like to give attention to the single chapter in which Orange makes use of the second person, and, therefore, forces the reader to step into the shoes of the last of his characters to be introduced, Thomas Frank.
Immediately, this chapter stood out to me. In part, this is because this is the only chapter in the novel that uses the second person perspective. The second thing I noticed, however, is that it was much, much, much more introspective than the others. Here, the reader is not just coming to understand Thomas Frank, but we have become him, if only for a few pages. "Before you were born, you were the nested Russian grandmother doll of possibility... you were two halves of a thousand different kinds of possibilities, a million heads or tails, flip-shine on a spun coin" (Orange, 208). This is true of Thomas, but it's also true of the reader, and every living person. Orange asks the audience to take a look at exactly how human Native Americans are, and how at the end of the day, they're the same as anyone else, even with their differences. And by having this be the final introduction, as well as the final chapter before the events at the powwow, we feel, more than anything else, the tragedy of the losses of their lives.
Hi! I agree with your blog post! I really liked how Dene did a project about Natives in Oakland telling their life stories, as it was important for the community of Oakland to come together and relate to one another. But, it also let them learn about each other, about their own personal experiences and how it made them the person they are today. And yes, the first person perspective felt like they were telling the audience what they went through - and with this novel, it taught the readers about the kind of stories that Native Americans may go through in general. And then again with Tony, we learn about him on a more personal level through a first person narrative with him identifying himself with more of his Native American background vs. his syndrome. It’s interesting how the author incorporates 2nd and 3rd person in Tony’s chapter as well and I never thought about it being told from a broader point outside of the character’s shoes and also relate to them with their personal accounts. I really like your ending of the third paragraph as well, as the author really did bring the element of different accounts and plot to make the readers realize that Native Americans are people too, not any different from us, with their own personal experiences.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the fact that the shift in perspectives allow the reader to empathize more with the character(s) within the each chapter that is being told. In addition, I agree with the fact that the shifts in perspectives adds to the interconnectedness the characters have, although they might not know it. Furthermore, in Dene's chapter regarding the modern life of Native Americans it is also important to note that their lives have become modernized rather than the traditional stereotype associated with Native Americans. Dene stresses the importance of the present with the stories of the past within his chapter. In Tony's chapter, we see that he is unhappy with himself and his situation, yet as you had stated being Native American grounds him. He feels a sense of belonging to the community and the challenges he faces no longer seem to be an issue to him when he relates back to his Native ancestors. Finally, with Thomas Frank's chapter I definitely agree with the fact that the reader truly feels that they, themselves, are in Frank's shoes. In this part of the novel Orange emphasizes how Native Americans should be seen as equal to any other person. Orange also stresses the importance of the powwow throughout the book, which we see in the events prior to the powwow, and how each character that attends is connected in one way or another.
ReplyDeleteI find the change in perspective very interesting, and I agree with your explanation of their purpose! One thing I found interesting in this topic is the switch in perspective among the same narrator/character of interest. For example, there are several chapters centered around Opal Viola Victoria Bear Shield, but one is written in first person and the rest are written in third person. The purpose of this confused me before, but your explanation of the important of anecdotal stories helped me gain insight.
ReplyDeleteThe switch between first and third person when describing Opal's life demonstrates Dene's intent to effectively share Native stories and their connection. In first person, Opal is young. She tells the story of her tragic childhood which left her and her pregnant sister without a mother (Orange 60). After this chapter, the audience is left questioning the fate of her family. Yet, the answers came from different perspectives/characters in the novel.
The final chapters of the book strengthen the connection between the characters stories as the shooting at the powwow unfolds. During his chapter, Orvil is shot (Orange 271). The audience is left wondering if he is alive after this. Later, during Jaquie's chapter, Opal and the rest of the family rescue Orvil and leave the powwow (Orange 280). By splitting the dramatic ending of the story into different chapters, Orange connects the character's stories to form one. Before, each character had their origin story, yet the final moments of the book offer a connection that allows the reader to connect the history of these Native characters.