Louise Erdrich’s widely acclaimed novel Love Medicine follows three generations of four Chippewa families through contemporary life on the reservation. Over a span of fifty years, issues from racism and identity to retaining community and life after colonization are explored. Erdrich beautifully contrasts the grim realities of life on the reservation with a poignant humour that counters the somber tone of the novel. Humour throughout the novel humanizes the characters while also bringing them together in the midst of hardships.
The presence of humour in the novel serves several purposes. First, humour helps readers relate to the characters. Readers with no knowledge of Native American culture can identify with the wit that humanizes the characters …show more content…
takes out his pain on both his wife and his new car, the others remain inside captivated by the comic relief Gordie offers. ““Fuckin’ bitch! Gimme the keys!” King screamed just outside the door. Gordie paused a moment. There was silence. He continued the joke.” p34 Characters are able to laugh at the humour despite the sad ugliness of abuse taking place just outside.
Humour also helps characters cope and come together throughout the novel.
The laughter in the novel drives the survival of the characters. With issues that have the power to tear families apart, laughter offers the opportunity to bond with one another, building both people and communities up. Being able to laugh at hardships brings strength. This is demonstrated by the telling of the story of June’s almost tragedy of being hung. “Then they were laughing in loud brays and whoops, sopping tears in their aprons and sleeves, waving their hands helplessly”p22 Being retold is a story that has the potential to end in tragedy, yet comedy prevails by the end of the scene, proving to be a bonding moment between women. “The sisters sniffed, fished the Kleenex from their sleeve, glanced pensively at one another, and put the story to rest”p22 As quickly as the moment began it was put to rest, the cathartic retelling absolving each other of …show more content…
The characters of the novel know that life on the reservation is not ideal, are aware of the empty promises of the government. Humour, in the form of sarcasm, irony and wit often displays that they are aware of the grim circumstances of life on the reservation. While many of the characters make sly digs at the government’s expense, it is Lyman that points out, in reference to reservation roads that they are “like government promises – full of holes”. The humour in the novel also highlights the political by defying societies stereotypes. The presence of a sense of humour blatantly defies the common image of stoic Indians. Nector makes an attempt at a career in acting and surmises, “death was the extent of Indian acting”p119. In the film, Nector’s role was simply to die a tragic death. Nector follows this with a stint in modeling, where again his role was to die. “Remember Custer’s saying? The only good Indian is a dead Indian? Well, from my dealings with whites I would add to that quote: “The only interesting Indian is dead, dying or falling backwards off a horse”p120. This demonstrates that the only places in society deemed appropriate for Native Americans to occupy are of the tragic death or as the object of laughter. However identity is caught up in all of this as Nector furthers the stereotype by occupying these roles. By fulfilling this stereotype Nector becomes an accomplice in the making of his own
The presence of humour in the novel serves several purposes. First, humour helps readers relate to the characters. Readers with no knowledge of Native American culture can identify with the wit that humanizes the characters …show more content…
takes out his pain on both his wife and his new car, the others remain inside captivated by the comic relief Gordie offers. ““Fuckin’ bitch! Gimme the keys!” King screamed just outside the door. Gordie paused a moment. There was silence. He continued the joke.” p34 Characters are able to laugh at the humour despite the sad ugliness of abuse taking place just outside.
Humour also helps characters cope and come together throughout the novel.
The laughter in the novel drives the survival of the characters. With issues that have the power to tear families apart, laughter offers the opportunity to bond with one another, building both people and communities up. Being able to laugh at hardships brings strength. This is demonstrated by the telling of the story of June’s almost tragedy of being hung. “Then they were laughing in loud brays and whoops, sopping tears in their aprons and sleeves, waving their hands helplessly”p22 Being retold is a story that has the potential to end in tragedy, yet comedy prevails by the end of the scene, proving to be a bonding moment between women. “The sisters sniffed, fished the Kleenex from their sleeve, glanced pensively at one another, and put the story to rest”p22 As quickly as the moment began it was put to rest, the cathartic retelling absolving each other of …show more content…
The characters of the novel know that life on the reservation is not ideal, are aware of the empty promises of the government. Humour, in the form of sarcasm, irony and wit often displays that they are aware of the grim circumstances of life on the reservation. While many of the characters make sly digs at the government’s expense, it is Lyman that points out, in reference to reservation roads that they are “like government promises – full of holes”. The humour in the novel also highlights the political by defying societies stereotypes. The presence of a sense of humour blatantly defies the common image of stoic Indians. Nector makes an attempt at a career in acting and surmises, “death was the extent of Indian acting”p119. In the film, Nector’s role was simply to die a tragic death. Nector follows this with a stint in modeling, where again his role was to die. “Remember Custer’s saying? The only good Indian is a dead Indian? Well, from my dealings with whites I would add to that quote: “The only interesting Indian is dead, dying or falling backwards off a horse”p120. This demonstrates that the only places in society deemed appropriate for Native Americans to occupy are of the tragic death or as the object of laughter. However identity is caught up in all of this as Nector furthers the stereotype by occupying these roles. By fulfilling this stereotype Nector becomes an accomplice in the making of his own