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The Round House
367
The Round House
By: Louise Erdrich
By: Peter Berthoud
Coming of Age
Coming
of
Age
Throughout the entire book The Round House, by Louise Erdrich, the main character, Joe, dramatically grows up and loses his innocence. In the beginning of the story, he follows and believes everything his father tells him. He did not know what happened to his mother. He later learns his mother was raped. He was unsure what that meant, but he knew it was a bad thing. This displays his innocence. While in the waiting room at the hospital, a white person made a mean comment. Joe did not act like himself. On page 9, it says, "Then I did something odd by instinct. I went over and took the magazine out of her hands. Still staring at her, I tore off the cover and dropped the rest of the magazine. I ripped again." This is a sign of things to come in Joe's life due to his mother's rape and the presence of Linden Lark. Throughout the story, Joe commits countless acts which are illegal, such as drinking alcohol, smoking cigarettes, smoking marijuana, doing other drugs, and driving a car. These acts range in seriousness, but still show he is growing up and losing his innocence. At the end of the story, after he and Cappy kill Linden, another example of his loss of innocence exists. Joe and his parents are driving back from Montana. They pass a café they would stop at everytime they passed in his childhood. This time they didn't stop. This quote on page 317 describes the situation very well, and how it affects the family in the future. "I do remember, though, the familiar sight of the roadside café just before we would cross the reservation line. On every one of my childhood trips that place was always a stop for ice cream, coffee, and a newspaper, pie..... But we did not stop this time. We passed over in a sweep of sorrow that would persist into our small forever. We just kept going."
Bildungsroman
Bildungsroman
As discussed in class, this is a bildungsroman story. According to Merriam-Webster, bildungsroman "is a novel about the moral and psychological growth of the main character." Throughout the story, Joe starts to rethink and question everything he has been taught. This leads to some of his growing up. He has to consider all things in his life, for himself and his family. When he makes the decision to kill Linden Lark, he makes this decision on his own, up to his own morals and standards. In the beginning he goes off of the morals of his parents, and throughout the story he forms his own, making his own choices.
“Bildungsroman.” Merriam-Webster, Merriam-Webster, www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bildungsroman.
Example
This is an article about children in today's day and age changing and learning more information than they need to know through video games and other sources of screen time. The children display bad behavior similar to those addicted to drugs and alcohol. They would rather participate in video games than do anything else. This is now recognized as a disease by the World Health Organization. This is similar to Joe because kids start off being innocent and having fun and then it turns into something addictive and dangerous.
Current Event
Nandi, Dr. “‘Gaming Disorder’ Is a Real Mental Health Condition.” WXYZ, 1 Jan. 2018,
Friendship
Joe and Cappy have a very strong friendship throughout The Round House. They do everything together. In the beginning, they would watch Star Trek and play video games. Then they moved onto drinking and smoking. Cappy knows Joe so well that when Joe goes to kill Linden, Cappy is there. Joe did not want to get Cappy involved so he did not tell him when he was going to kill Linden. He just knew when he would go. Joe told his mother once, on page 30, "He's my best buddy, Mom. He's like a brother to me." This puts into words the friendship they share together. When Cappy dies in the drunk driving crash in Montana, Joe is devestated. This signifies the point in time when Joe knows he is no longer a child. As discussed earlier, this is proof of Joe's coming of age.
Friendship
http://www.classycars.org/Nissan.1988.Sentra-coupe.346.html
Personal Connection
I feel a personal connection as I am currently maturing and much more is expected of me by my parents, teachers, and society, in general. As I prepare to take college entrance exams, continue to perform well ain school, choose a university to attend, and plan for my future, pressure is on. Additionally beyond my education, I will soon adjust to living outside of our family home and away from my family to living on my own. This is my own connection to my own life about growing up.
Laws
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bureau_of_Indian_Affairs
Througout the book, there are many mentions of how Joe and his family will be able to prosecute Linden Lark. They know he committed the act, but they do not know where it occurred. It is very important because they need to know if it is on Native American land or on the U.S. Government land. On page 142, the Major Crimes Act of 1885 is briefly discussed. The Act includes when the federal government first intervened with the decisions Indians made regarding punishment and restitution. Another law mentioned is Public Law 280. This was added in 1953, after Congress passed it. This gave certain states criminal/civil jurisdiction on Indian lands within their borders.
Laws on
Indian Reservations
Example
“Hoopa Valley Tribal Police & Humboldt County Sheriff’s Department Locate Attempted Murder Suspect.” TWO RIVERS TRIBUNE ONLINE RSS,
How this relates to the book
This relates to the book because right after the attack, Joe and Bazil are waiting a long period of time for the police officers to arrive. A quote that describes the situation very well is on page 12. Bazil says, "..and as we stood waiting, the police arrived. Three men came through the emergency ward doors and stood quietly in the hall. There was a state trooper, an officer local to the town of Hoopdance, and Vince Madwesin, from the tribal police. My father had insisted that they each take a statement from my mother because it wasn't clear where the crime had been committed-on state or tribal land-or who had committed it-an Indian or a non-Indian." This is very important because it keeps all options open, due to the fact that they do not know the location where the crime was committed. If they were to find out that it occured on land in the jurisdiction of an officer who didn't take a statement, they could have a harder time prosecuting him.
“North Dakota Is The Best Place In America To Speed.” Say Anything, 10 Dec. 2014, www.sayanythingblog.com/entry/north-dakota-best-place-america-speed/.
Current Event Example
Helsel, Phil. “President Trump Signs Executive Order on Obamacare after Swearing-In.” NBCNews.com, NBCUniversal News Group, 20 Jan. 2017,
Current Event Example
In current news, there has been discussion on Native American's land and rights. They Keystone XL pipeline in North Dakota has been a topic of extreme controversy. It is controversial because Keystone XL is proposed to be built on Native American land, and they oppose it. This is because it goes through "sacred ground" and according to Standing Rock Sioux Tribe chairman, Dave Archambault II, "The pipelines are all risk and no reward, allowing corporate polluters to transport oil through our country to be sold on the global market, while putting our air and water at serious risk." This is a bad thing for Native Americans and another violation of their land and their rights. They should be able to decide whether or not they want this pipeline to be built through their designated land. President Trump has allowed the pipeline to be built through an Executive order.
Jones, Athena, et al. “Trump Advances Controversial Oil Pipelines with Executive Action.” CNN, Cable News Network, 24 Jan. 2017,
Another Example
Another example of a current event includes a situation regarding an officer-involved shooting in Wisconsin. A 14-year-old was shot after lunging at an officer multiple times on the Bad River Reservation. The tribe and the Ashland County Police Department are now not getting along very well. A Tribal member wants the Tribe to take action. He recommends to explore ways to opt the Tribe out of Public Law 280. This would give them more control over criminal matters on the reservation. Right now, states and counties have jurisdiction over these matters. This is very interesting, because just like The Round House, local tribes are fighting for jurisdiction over a possible crime.
“Bad River Tribal Members Seek Justice, Action After Jason Pero Shooting.” Wisconsin Public Radio, 15 Dec. 2017
Wiindigoo
While discussing the possible legal punishments for Linden's killer, Bazil believes that they can use the Wiindigoo defense. Wiindigoo justice is an old Chippewa legal system. It requires a community consensus to determine if someone is a Wiindigoo. A Wiindigoo is someone who "craves the flesh of others," according to Mooshum. It is not a formal process, but still is considered valid in the Native American community. On page 306, Bazil says, "It could be argued that Lark met the definition of a Wiindigoo, and that with no other recourse, his killing fulfilled the requirements of a very old law." Joe is convinced that his action to kill Linden, a Wiindigoo, will restore safety and a sense of comfort in his community. This will keep Joe safe from charges because he can claim that it was in defense of his community. He will now have to live with what he did for the rest of his life. On page 306, Bazil also says, "That person who killed Lark will live with the human consenquences of having taken a life. As I did not kill Lark, but wanted to, I must at least protect the person who took on that task." This is why he tells Joe about this Wiindigoo defense, and is confident the killer will be safe.
Wiindigoo
Russo, Maria. “Disturbing the Spirits.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 13 Oct. 2012, www.nytimes.com/2012/10/14/books/review/the-round-house-by-louise-erdrich.html.
More Connections
After the crime had been committed by Joe and Cappy, Joe starts having nightmare's and visions. They consist of either Linden Lark's soul in Joe's body running away with Cappy or the ghost in the backyard representing the police. These dreams greatly affect Joe. He constantly shouts Cappy's name during his sleep. He is trying to warn Cappy about Linden, knowing that he will kill him, but he can not help him. This drains him mentally and physically due to the fact that Joe wakes up sweating and his heart pounding. Due to my own personal experience, this represents guilt and concern. When I am stressed about something, I will have dreams like Joe. I have had dreams where I need to do something, but I cannot do it. It is very frustrating and I cannot explain it very well, but I can relate to Joe's situation. Overall, this represents Joe's guilt and worries over the murder of Linden Lark.
https://nightroadkusu.deviantart.com/art/My-First-Garou-Little-Witiko-378859253
What Could Have Happened
What could have Happened
Joe remembers the time when Bugger, the town drunk, tried to steal his bike. He remembers that Bugger said he saw something and wanted to see if it was a dream, but Joe could not remember what. Joe regrets not asking him what he saw and goes to find him. He learns he is in the hospital and goes to visit him. On page 310, Joe talks to him and Bugger says, "Poor girl!" Joe quickly realizes what he is talking about. Joe then says, "I stood up, jolted. I knew, down to the core of me, that he had seen Mayla Wolfskin. He had seen her dead body." Joe realizes how things could have changed if they found the body earlier. Joe would not have had to kill Linden to get justice, as there would be proof of Linden's crime. Joe realizes this, statink, "If we hadn't killed Lark, he'd have gone to jail for life anyway." This is a total shock of reality for Joe. He would have preferred this way to get justice because he would not have had to kill someone. This piece of information changes his emotions greatly, causing some sense of regret.
Catholicism vs. Native American Tradition
Catholicism
vs.
Native American Tradition
There are many examples of Chippewa tradition in The Round House. The actual round house is a sacred site for rituals and events. The Native Americans perform their summer ritual at the round house. This event occurs when Joe steals the rifle. The Native Americans also talk about doodems, which are connections people have with certain animals. Additionally, there are also some examples of Catholicism in the novel. There are missionaries that come to try to convert them. Also, there is a new Priest, Father Travis, trying to boost the Catholic faith. Joe is interested in this, as he wants to learn how to pray. Overall, religion and tradition play a huge role in The Round House.
Connection to Today
As a connection to today, I read an interesting article about a girl and her experiences and knowledge with the different types of faith. Sarah Berridge grew up on a reservation in Nebraska. She was always taught to be scared of her Native American beliefs by Catholic Nuns. She overcame this and is now teaching Native American Catholics to combine their culture into Catholicism. More and more Native Americans are trying to express both their Catholic faith and their Native beliefs and traditions. This is interesting because these are two very different religions. People are trying to keep their traditional values and culture, but also explore Christianity.
Today
“Being Catholic--and Staying Native American.” Beliefnet, Beliefnet, Inc. and/or Its Licensors,
The Round House
The round house is greatly significant in the book. A round house is a sacred space for events and Native rituals. This is also where Geraldine, Mayla, and her baby encountered Linden Lark. Geraldine was raped here, and it is believed that Mayla was murdered here or nearby by Linden. This could be due to the fact that Linden is white, and he is trying to show his dominance. Also, the crime could have taken place here because it was in a secluded location. Overall, the round house is a very important part of The Round House.
The Round House
“History.” The Tuolumne Band of Me-Wuk Indians, mewuk.com/cultural/history/.
Domestic Violence
Sonja and Whitey get into a fight one night when Joe is staying with them. Stated on page 175, "The crack of a slap, a cry. Don't. Please. Joe's out there." This is evidence of one of many instances of lack of respect of woman. Other examples would be the rape of Geraldine, and abducting/killing Mayla. Linden and his violence is based on him being a bigot. He says that he hates Native Americans. This stems from his twin sister growing up in a better family than his own, and Whitey's gas station putting the Lark family gas station out of business.
Domestic Violence
Current Event
Recently in Seattle, a domestic violence suspect was caught after making very serious threats. He had threatened to shoot himself and blow up the entire neighborhood in which he resides. This is after police were called on a possible violence incident. They entered and proceeded to find 35 guns. This is a very dangerous situation for the victim and the police. You never know what will happen in these serious situations. Everyone could be at risk.
Current Event
Burton, SeattlePI Lynsi. “35+ Guns Seized from Domestic Violence Suspect's Seattle Home.” Seattlepi.com,
Current Event
In Colorado this past weekend, one police officer was killed and six other people, including two civillians, were shot after police responded to a disturbance at an apartment complex. The door was opened by someone who lived in the apartment and the shooter started shooting. They called this an ambush attack. This shows the danger of possible domestic violence calls. It is horrible that a person would do this in any way.
Current Event
“Man Who Killed DougCo Deputy, Shot Six Others, Fired More than 100 Rounds.” Wbir.com, 1 Jan. 2018,
Current Event
In Buffalo, New York, a man was charged in a disturbing domestic violence incident. The charges included assault, unlawful imprisonment, and endangering the welfare of a child. The man punched the victim and did not let them leave. This is very troubling because it shows the danger people are in everyday. Females should not be treated in this way and everyone person should be respected.
Current Event
Radlich, Jane Kwiatkowski. “Jamestown Man, 36, Charged in Domestic Violence Incident.” The Buffalo News, The Buffalo News, 1 Jan. 2018,