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Red girls reasoning E.

Pauline Johnson's "A Red Girl's Reasoning" comments on cultural differences between the dominant white North American culture and the Native culture. In "A Red Girl's Reasoning", an Englishman loses his Native wife as a result of his narrow-mindedness towards her culture. we see how the white culture has affected the Native characters. The authors' use of point of view, descriptive diction, and the characters' actions, help convey their themes of cultural differences between Natives and the dominant white culture. Through Johnson's points of view, we see the emotions which surround the Native characters. Johnson uses point of view to convey her theme of social and cultural differences in "A Red Girl's Reasoning." However, the point of view used is the third person omniscient. Through this point of the view, the author allows us to see both the white man's view and the Native American's view. The reader sees how Christie's white husband, Charlie, views his wife. Even though he does feel a passionate love for his wife, Charlie has an ignorant view of the Native culture-shown through the phrase "She was simple minded and awfully ignorant to pitch those old Indian laws at him in her fury." "God Knows" Christine, a young half-Indian, half-white, girl marries Charles Mc Donald a young white man from a nearby provincial capital. Jimmy Robinson, the father of the bride gives a simple warning to the young man before their marriage. "be pretty good to her, Charlie, my boy, or she'll balk sure as shooting"." It is kindness for kindness, bullet for bullet, blood for blood. Remember what you are, she will be". What he meant was " treat her as you wish to be treated ". This echoes the golden rule given in Bible: "Do unto others as others would like you to do". Christine is a perfect wife; Charlie sees the flower of nature in her and wants to civilize her. By marrying she becomes what white culture expect- vulnerable. Yet , the white society wasnt ready for hybidity, so she was rejected. She couldnt compromise her identity , she could if Charlie loved her , but he said the crucial awful words god knows. Their life was ruined because of the influence of public sphere into the private sphere. She could participate Charlies society if if she took up his religion. Yet , her ethnic pride didnt allow her to give in Charlies expectations at the expense of her private self. Religious pride was more important to her than her personal happiness. theme : misunderstanding ; hybrid identity

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