Leslie Marmon Silko’s novel, Gardens in the Dunes, features the story of a young Native American girl named Indigo and her journey throughout the colonial pressures of 19th Century America. In the novel, Silko emphasizes the importance of horticulture during the 19th Century. In the Sand Lizard community of which Indigo belonged, plants and gardens were held in high regard as they signified survival and an interrelationship to the earth and it inhabitants. In contrast, through the characters of Edward and his sister Susan, plants and gardens were used as a means of monetary and social gain. Throughout the novel, Indigo experiences both sides of hybridity and the effects it had on people of the 19th Century. Indigo learns from her grandmother,
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Aunt Bronwyn shows Indigo how her gardens were influenced by various cultures. She does so in way that is not fueled by personal gain, rather a sincere love for nature and cultural exchange. Indigo learns from Aunt Berwyn that she has a garden devoted to a diverse amount of vegetables from America, Italy, Asia, and Africa (240). She allows Indigo to take seeds from these plants to add to her garden when she returns home. In doing this, Aunt Bronwyn is showing her appreciation for nature; rather than keeping the plants all to herself, she understands the importance of sharing their wealth with others. In addition to cultivating plants from all over the world, she also understands the importance of showing her respect for the plants. According to Aunt Bronwyn, “if a garden wasn’t loved it could not properly grow!” (240). This compares to what Grandma Fleet taught Indigo regarding plants: “The plants listen…always greet each plant respectfully. Don’t argue or fight around the plants—hard feelings cause the plants to wither” (14). In saying this, Grandma Fleet was instilling the values of respect for nature upon Indigo. This sentiment was furthered by the respect learned from Aunt Bronwyn.
In all, the theme of hybridity throughout Silko’s novel shows the importance that nature held within the Native American culture. Through Indigo, readers are given a sense at the interrelationship between nature and survival while the dichotomy between Edward and Susan’s perceptions of gardens goes to show the colonial mindset of the 19th Century in a relatively dismal
Aunt Bronwyn shows Indigo how her gardens were influenced by various cultures. She does so in way that is not fueled by personal gain, rather a sincere love for nature and cultural exchange. Indigo learns from Aunt Berwyn that she has a garden devoted to a diverse amount of vegetables from America, Italy, Asia, and Africa (240). She allows Indigo to take seeds from these plants to add to her garden when she returns home. In doing this, Aunt Bronwyn is showing her appreciation for nature; rather than keeping the plants all to herself, she understands the importance of sharing their wealth with others. In addition to cultivating plants from all over the world, she also understands the importance of showing her respect for the plants. According to Aunt Bronwyn, “if a garden wasn’t loved it could not properly grow!” (240). This compares to what Grandma Fleet taught Indigo regarding plants: “The plants listen…always greet each plant respectfully. Don’t argue or fight around the plants—hard feelings cause the plants to wither” (14). In saying this, Grandma Fleet was instilling the values of respect for nature upon Indigo. This sentiment was furthered by the respect learned from Aunt Bronwyn.
In all, the theme of hybridity throughout Silko’s novel shows the importance that nature held within the Native American culture. Through Indigo, readers are given a sense at the interrelationship between nature and survival while the dichotomy between Edward and Susan’s perceptions of gardens goes to show the colonial mindset of the 19th Century in a relatively dismal