Detailed Analysis of Medicine River: Characters, Symbols, and Themes

This homework assignment analyzes Thomas King's novel, *Medicine River*. The assignment addresses the concept of symbolism, identifying what a symbol represents. It identifies and explains an archetypical character within the novel. The assignment also examines foreshadowing in the context of Rose and Erleen's storyline, and provides a brief character sketch of Jake Pretty Weasel, adhering to the provided word count. The assignment explores the themes of identity, family, community, and Native American assimilation, along with social issues, demonstrating the complexities of the characters and the narrative structure. The analysis draws on textual evidence and the provided assignment brief to provide a comprehensive overview of the literary elements and themes presented in the novel.

Running Head : MEDICINE RIVER
Medicine River
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

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Question and answers
1.A symbol is a sign, word or a mark which signifies and indicates and at the same time
understood representing an idea, relationship or an object. Symbols allow most of the people
to go beyond the creation of linkages between various experiences and concepts. The
communication can be easily achieved through appropriate use of the symbols which can be
in the form of gestures, words, sounds, ideas or the visual images. Symbolism can be referred
to as a literary element which is used in the literature for making the readers understand the
literary work. It is the use of a person, an object, a situation or a word to represent something
else such as an idea in literature.
2. In the novel Medicine River by Thomas King, there is an archetype character name Harlen
Bigbear who later in the novel becomes one of those characters with whom almost every
reader is familiar and who can be labelled as a hero because of his largely good intentions or
as a villain for the small manipulations or misunderstandings. The author of the novel has
become able to avoid overdramatizing in the novella and meets the further criteria that favor
a flat type of narrative.
3. The themes of Medicine River consist of identity, family community and Native American
assimilation along with the social issues. Identity can be considered as a major theme in the
novel. The protagonist Will never feels that he fits into the Blackfoot society and they were
forced to leave the reservation due to their father’ being a white man. It is evident that Will’s
experience with the Friendship Centre provided him an insight into the pride of an Indian.
The Indian pride is juxtaposed with Rose who is highly prideful and refused to take the gift
from her friend Erleen being a non native. It gives more importance to the human values as
explained to her sons “ Friends don’t need to get each other presents”. Immediately after

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that, it is shown that there is a counter of examples while Erleen was caught shop lifting and
made all types of excuses for saving her face in front of Rose who is an Indian woman.
4. Jake Pretty Wesel is a prominent character who grew up with Harlen and Will and he kills
himself in the novel. He has been portrayed as an abusive husband to his wife. In the month
of January, he fake a suicide note for ensuring that people do not consider his wife killed him.
5. The main concern of the novel is the return home of Will, the long journey he has in a
specific city to the Blackfoot reservation having developed relation with the larger family
through the memories of his mother. His mother has recently died and he fantasizes about his
white father. He imagines “ My father is a television producer”, “ My father is an investment
consultant”, “ My father is a physicist’, “ My father is a computer designer”.

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Bibliography
Green, Hannah. "Finding the “I” in Irony: Thomas King as Trickster, Narrator, and
Creator1." an interdisciplinary quarterly from the north (2017): 148.
Jansen, Anne Mai Yee. "One Good Story, That One by Thomas King." The American Indian
Quarterly 40.1 (2016): 74-76.
King, Thomas. Medicine river. Penguin, 2018.