I
am conflicted on whether I should focus my project on my first option; a female
character OR a
project considering how it reflects its historical, social, political and/or
economic context. Ms Hiltbrand’s feedback definitely helped me narrow it down,
but I am currently undecided. So, while I debate, I will focus this week’s
Project Work on a female character. The female character my project is on is Ifapi of "About-the-House Girl".
To
answer the first question, “What is the author’s attitude towards her?” I need
to first establish who exactly the author is. Our literature shows it is a story of the Karok tribe. To understand the author, we must understand
their history and determine how they relate to the story.
I also need to determine if the character, Ifapi was of the Karok tribe or perhaps was the male character, Patapir of the Karok tribe? Or were either / or both? How is this tribe/ how are these people connected. All of this needs to be established in order to understand the author's attitude towards her.
The following is a few notes and links to the scratching of the surface on the Karok tribe:
Translated,
Karok means “upriver”/ “upstream” people
I wanted to have a visual of exactly where Ifapi and Patapir are. I have located the mouth of the river where Patapir lives and plays his flute.
Page
6 shows a map of the mouth of Klamath river
Map
of Pre-Contact Tribal territories; Karok is located at the very top of the
state, beginning at the Oregon border, near the Shasta Indian Tribe: https://www.tes.com/lessons/GsFn8kqtzxeI5A/wiyot
This would make the Karok tribe upstream from where Patapir lives, therefore establishing that Ifapi is likely of the Karok tribe.
At the end of the story, Theodora Kroeber is noted to have been the storyteller. I have been researching Ms Kroeber and found that she was an American writer and Anthropologist. She wrote books of California Native Americans and their legends. She is known for her book about Ishi, and Yahi Indian, Ishi in Two Worlds. While she did not speak to him directly, she wrote the book from extensive notes of her husband, Alfred Kroeber, who had known Ishi personally. (Kouzmanoff)
Comparing
the two maps, I can guess that the story or myth is being told by the people of
Karok, representing Ifapi as one of their women; a woman of their tribe. They would
likely be telling the story with pride and happiness
What
is my attitude towards her? Initially, I am confused why she would be pretending to be a sick girl and keep hidden. I am curious how she was chosen by the Leader. I feel sympathy for her for losing her mother at such a young age, but happy she had a loving father and caring aunt.
How
do at least 2 other characters view her? The two young women were snobby towards her. Without even knowing her or trying to get to know her, they thought and spoke as if they were above her.
Patapir was instantly intrigued by her elusiveness. He wanted to know her; he instantly fell in love - Definitely loads more to express on Patapir's view of her.
Other characters to elaborate on: Ifapi's father, her aunt, the Leader...
How
does she view herself? For anyone to keep themselves hidden while still performing at such a distinguished role for the Leader, she must think highly and proudly of herself. She was patient, to wait while playing the role of a sick girl, she was patient and determined.
I feel like there is much, much more research to be done for this project. I want to have an understanding of the importance of the "Life Renewing Dance" and what exactly her role was in it. I believe she was the only woman in the dance. Why did she choose to pretend to be a sick girl? Is there significance in hiding away as a sick girl? I will continue to search through the library's catalog as well as anything I might find online.
WORKS CITED
Kouzmanoff, Adam. “Theodora Kroeber.” Salem Press Biographical Encyclopedia, 2017. EBSCOhost, 0-search.ebscohost.com.library.4cd.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ers&AN=89875947&site=eds-live.
No comments:
Post a Comment