Death by Landscape and the Canadian Identity Essay Example

of Europeans in the past. The reason for this over-exaggerated almost cartoon versions of Natives is simple.

European Canadians want to feel more connected with the wilderness. They want to feel ownership over something that morally, is not entirely theirs.The idea of a stupid, savage, "Indian" has been accepted by so many Canadians in the past because it makes European Canadians feel they are the first civilized "pioneers" of the land. When in tact, they are and always will be second. This longing to be the pioneers or true "owners" of the Canadian wilderness has also brought European Canadians to the other end of the spectrum. Many want to conform to.

or emulate many Native cultures and practices. The Campers at Manitou do this, however inaccurately, but why?It seems paradoxical that a European Canadian camp/ society 'Ofs would want to emulate a culture they seem to show such disdain for. The next quotation demonstrates the lacking that many European Canadians feel, when they consider that their roots are not truly in the Canadian wild. In this passage Lois represents the campers, and no doubt European Canadian society as a whole. #2 European Canadians often emulate Native practices because they see qualities in Aboriginal culture that they lack in themselves.

These practices are often overly- romanticized much like the exaggerated sense of duty that Cappie gives the campers before their canoe trip. This want to become "Indians" and urge to re-create Native culture stems from the insecurity Europeans feel about their belonging in Canada. Much like Lucy, they see that their ancestors did not truly conquer the wilderness. White Canadians feel they have to "become" Indians Just

to be at home here.

The camp both mocks and emulates Native culture for the same reason; they want to feel like the rightful residents of Canada.They achieve this at the expense of Native culture. The next quotation is taken from the included article "Indians of Childhood" and expands on idea of Canadians both demonizing and conforming to Native practices. #3 The reason Native cultures are both mocked admired at Camp Manitou is because the campers have trouble grasping that they are latecomers.

This feeling of denial an be extrapolated to European Canadian society as a whole. So they have created extreme renditions of Native peoples both negative and positive. Negative, so that they themselves can feel superior by comparison.Positive so that they can have something to conform to. A truly Canadian ceremony that they feel their ancestors may have lacked.

The use of exaggerated Native practices enriches the story, because it triggers a feeling of distaste with Lois as well as the reader. However, they also bring up an unspoken conflict within the Canadian identity between Native and European culture. The use of these practices demonstrates the need for European Canadians to both mock and Emulate Native practices. -A major focus of this story is the Canadian landscape, and how it affects its residents.It is an accurate demonstration of how nature affects the Canadian identity. The Canadian wilderness becomes a part of Lois through the tragedy that has occurred.

Although she realizes it late, the landscape of the wild has become a part of her personal identity. As she ages, Lois slowly becomes more aware of her obsession with the Canadian wilderness. This quotation

demonstrates her ecognition, at the beginning of the story, of her relationship with the Canadian wilderness. In this passage, Lois realizes the affect of her husband's death and the aging of her children has had on her.

She has become less distracted by every day activities and has more time to reflect upon her life and why she does certain things. For example, she displays ornate paintings of Canadian landscapes in her home, yet avoids being near plant life at any time. She begins to discover how the Canadian wilderness has shaped her personal identity. She begins to explore her memories and seems to have evelations about herself. More specifically, Lois has been using the Canadian wilderness as a symbol of Lucy in her mind. Lucy was lost; she disappeared and was swallowed by the landscape.

There were no remains to be buried, no tangible item to fix Lucy's spirit to. Lois never attained emotional closure regarding Lucy's death. Instead, she attached all her emotions at the loss of Lucy to the Canadian Wilderness. This quotation demonstrates Lois's seemingly irrational fear of the north a disdain that only Lois can understand.

#5 Lois refuses to travel north because she does not want to see the thing that has aunted her for all these years. She does not want to be reminded of Lucy through the landscape associated with her.She has neglected to see that through her constant obsession with Lucy; the Canadian wilderness has become a part of her. In many ways, Lois's character is used to represent the restrained feelings that all Canadians may have towards the wilderness. Canada is a country so full of, so

dominated by untamed wilderness that it changes Canadian's way of thinking. Whether or not the image of the wilderness is positive or negative, every Canadian carries a part of the wilderness with them in their mind.

Lois carries this image with her not Just in her minds but also within her paintings.In fact, Lois's recurring thoughts about Lucy manifest themselves in her art collection. This quotation expresses the correlation between Lois's thoughts of Lucy and her paintings. Lois has collected these paintings to fill the void Lucy has left in her mind. Like many Canadians, she lives in the city.

She tries to push away her roots in the wilderness, the landscape that dominates much of Canada. She wants to avoid all the negative thoughts that the wilderness triggers. However, she keeps these paintings s a token, a shrine to her memories as an innocent young girl as well as her memories of Lucy.The Canadian wilderness is a symbol of the Canadian identity in this story. It manifests itself within Lois's mind, her surroundings, and even her possessions.

Canadians and Americans are often seen as identical on an international scale. Despite protests from Canadians (and some Americans), Canadian identity is forever generalized and associated with American culture. However, this generalization could not be more inaccurate. There are innumerable differences between Canadian and American culture and mindset.

Many of these differences of culture and mindset are exemplified in this story.The characters of Lucy and Lois are very much a representation of stereotypical Canadians and Americans. The author uses these two characters to outline seeming differences between Canadian and American attitudes. This passage demonstrates the differences between

Lois and Lucy.

Lucy is the brash, reckless, girl who fools around the gardener's son. Lois is much more composed; she is measured, and seems to be very mundane. She feels that her life is boring compared to Lucy's. There is a correlation between these two characters and he attitudes of Canadians and Americans.

Lucy represents a stereotypical American, aggressive, outspoken, and unafraid of repercussions. Lois is very much the opposite; she represents the mundane, humble, and cautious Canadian. Lucy's personality seems to overshadow Lois. Lois is portrayed as the lesser sibling, going unnoticed behind Lucy's larger than life personality. Lucy is unafraid of the wilderness, and is slightly arrogant in this respect.

Lois seems to acknowledge the wilderness much more. She realizes the danger behind the beauty, and is more cautious and fearful because of this.This quotation shows the slight ignorance that Americans, represented by Lucy, may have regarding the wild. She Jokes at Jumping from a deadly cliff, and does not seem to grasp the magnitude of the wilderness or the power it holds. Lois seems to fear the cliff. She pays the wilderness respect by being cautious and realizing her place among the old trees and ancient rocks.

She does not test the limits of what the wilderness will allow her to do. In the end, Lucy is the one who is swallowed, almost absorbed by the wilderness.As if some ancient spirit of the woods had heard her emarks, and decided to show her Just how insignificant she really is. This passage effectively communicates the manner in which Lucy was metaphorically eaten by the landscape.

It shows how her spirit was lost, never

to be found, in the endless tangles of branches and Canadian Shield. Lois reflects upon Lucy's fate in this passage. She ponders the fate of her friend's body and recognizes the fact that her spirit was truly lost at that cliff. Lois survives and Lucy disappears.

This implies that the stereotypical, mundane, cautious Canadian is more suited to live on the edge of such a vast wilderness. Canadians indeed live on the fringe of an enourmous wild continent, which is yet to be flattened by cement trucks and steam rollers. Perhaps this is why Canadians have endured here so long. This shows that the differences between Americans and Canadians are no coincidence.

It implies that because Canadians live on the fringe of untamed wilderness (especially in the 1940's the setting of this book) their attitude changes. They have more respect and restraint, which may deem them boring to some.