Medicine Walk by Richard Wagamese is a novel of tremendous pain and healing. The title in itself gives readers the opportunity to ponder the true meaning of the “Medicine”, and to come to the realization that the author is not talking about medicine in solely the physical sense of the word. Wagamese also brings the perspective of a journey into the title through the use of the verb “Walk”. After analysing the true meaning of the title, readers can begin to look at how the medicine is working to counteract the predominant poisons within the novel, alcohol and sorrow. Through the use of storytelling along the journey into the backcountry both Eldon, and his son, Frank, are given the opportunity to finally come to terms with their pasts, and in
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Typically the first thing that comes to mind when people think about medicine is a physical definition. They think of something they must ingest in order to heal on a physical level. While there are some references to this in the novel, “Ain’t no medicine I know can help him perfect. But I made this up for my own father when he was near the end. It’ll soothe him when it counts” (104), for the most part medicine is used as a figurative term for storytelling. Storytelling is an important medium in Medicine Walk which allows the characters in the book to undergo a process of healing, and begin to understand each other’s pasts. This healing does not occur on a physical level, but on one of the subconscious instead. For Eldon, the telling of these stories acts as a sort of confessional, where he can begin to share the horrors of his past with his son. By reliving these experiences he can begin to come to terms for what he did and begin the arduous process of moving past these detrimental. The healing process did not come all at once; instead it was a journey that commenced when he approached Frank about travelling into the …show more content…
This is demonstrated by the process of which Eldon tells his stories to his son. After each story both Eldon and Frank seem emotionally and physically drained, “he leaned down and took up the mug, hands shaking crazily, and drank all of it off in one huge gulp” (102). The entire process of the journey begins when Eldon approaches Frank about going into the wilderness. This was a tipping point in the novel, essentially the point that Eldon decides he wants to share his life story with his son. From this point out each story that he tells Frank allows him to feel a little bit freer. Each component of the walk is broken down into steps that can be easily compared to those taken by a recovering addict. The first, is acceptance, when he realises he wants to take the journey with his son. The second step can be compared to the searching and discovery of one’s true self where Eldon is given the chance to reflect on his life through means of storytelling. Thirdly, during the process of telling these stories Eldon realises who he has hurt over the duration of his life. Finally, he tries to make amends with his son through his final words, ““I’m sorry,” he whispered, “I’m sorry.”” (243). The walk itself becomes a spiritual journey that is a healing process for both main
Typically the first thing that comes to mind when people think about medicine is a physical definition. They think of something they must ingest in order to heal on a physical level. While there are some references to this in the novel, “Ain’t no medicine I know can help him perfect. But I made this up for my own father when he was near the end. It’ll soothe him when it counts” (104), for the most part medicine is used as a figurative term for storytelling. Storytelling is an important medium in Medicine Walk which allows the characters in the book to undergo a process of healing, and begin to understand each other’s pasts. This healing does not occur on a physical level, but on one of the subconscious instead. For Eldon, the telling of these stories acts as a sort of confessional, where he can begin to share the horrors of his past with his son. By reliving these experiences he can begin to come to terms for what he did and begin the arduous process of moving past these detrimental. The healing process did not come all at once; instead it was a journey that commenced when he approached Frank about travelling into the …show more content…
This is demonstrated by the process of which Eldon tells his stories to his son. After each story both Eldon and Frank seem emotionally and physically drained, “he leaned down and took up the mug, hands shaking crazily, and drank all of it off in one huge gulp” (102). The entire process of the journey begins when Eldon approaches Frank about going into the wilderness. This was a tipping point in the novel, essentially the point that Eldon decides he wants to share his life story with his son. From this point out each story that he tells Frank allows him to feel a little bit freer. Each component of the walk is broken down into steps that can be easily compared to those taken by a recovering addict. The first, is acceptance, when he realises he wants to take the journey with his son. The second step can be compared to the searching and discovery of one’s true self where Eldon is given the chance to reflect on his life through means of storytelling. Thirdly, during the process of telling these stories Eldon realises who he has hurt over the duration of his life. Finally, he tries to make amends with his son through his final words, ““I’m sorry,” he whispered, “I’m sorry.”” (243). The walk itself becomes a spiritual journey that is a healing process for both main