The Importance of Characters
The novel Power by Linda Hogan is mainly about Native American culture and its conflict with White culture. Throughout the novel we learn of many interesting characters that play important roles. Without any one of them the story would not be the same.
The Protagonist of Power is Omishto, whose name means “One Who Watches.” As her name implies, she is an observant character who sees more things than others realize. As stated by her, “I watch everything and see deep into what’s around me” (pg. 4). Thus at the beginning of the novel, Omishto reminisces about how she and her sister Donna were the last people to see the character Abraham Swallow alive, making her the only one to witness the strange circumstances of …show more content…
Thus she only refers to him as her mother’s husband. Herm as he is called, is described many times as having a violent temper, and as physically hurting her many times. He often says to her “I ought to backhand you” when he thinks Omishto isn’t behaving. When Omishto decided to leave home and live in Ama’s house, Herm goes looking for her in an attempt to bring her back home, thus immediately becoming threatening. This, reinforcing the description of him of being a violent man. Further proof of this is when on page 208, Omishto locks herself in Ama’s chicken coop to avoid Herm’s wrath. However, Herm’s character is confusing since he shows that he cares for Omishto’s mother thus displaying “love” while on the other hand doing terrible things to Omishto, such as when he tried to have her committed into a “mental hospital for not returning home” (pg. 223).
Lastly, the last member of Omishto’s family is her sister Donna, who is described as more socially involved and ingrained in modern society. This is evident when on page 85 while picking up Omishto in her boyfriend’s car she is described as “getting out of the car like a queen” by Omishto. In addition, like their mother she isn’t very connected with Taiga culture and doesn’t have the same devotion to
The novel Power by Linda Hogan is mainly about Native American culture and its conflict with White culture. Throughout the novel we learn of many interesting characters that play important roles. Without any one of them the story would not be the same.
The Protagonist of Power is Omishto, whose name means “One Who Watches.” As her name implies, she is an observant character who sees more things than others realize. As stated by her, “I watch everything and see deep into what’s around me” (pg. 4). Thus at the beginning of the novel, Omishto reminisces about how she and her sister Donna were the last people to see the character Abraham Swallow alive, making her the only one to witness the strange circumstances of …show more content…
Thus she only refers to him as her mother’s husband. Herm as he is called, is described many times as having a violent temper, and as physically hurting her many times. He often says to her “I ought to backhand you” when he thinks Omishto isn’t behaving. When Omishto decided to leave home and live in Ama’s house, Herm goes looking for her in an attempt to bring her back home, thus immediately becoming threatening. This, reinforcing the description of him of being a violent man. Further proof of this is when on page 208, Omishto locks herself in Ama’s chicken coop to avoid Herm’s wrath. However, Herm’s character is confusing since he shows that he cares for Omishto’s mother thus displaying “love” while on the other hand doing terrible things to Omishto, such as when he tried to have her committed into a “mental hospital for not returning home” (pg. 223).
Lastly, the last member of Omishto’s family is her sister Donna, who is described as more socially involved and ingrained in modern society. This is evident when on page 85 while picking up Omishto in her boyfriend’s car she is described as “getting out of the car like a queen” by Omishto. In addition, like their mother she isn’t very connected with Taiga culture and doesn’t have the same devotion to