In Zitkala-Sa’s story The School Days Of An India Girl I interpreted that at the beginning of her story she was living the American Dream, but didn’t want to partake in it. Throughout parts I-VI she seemed to be resisting her education and she wanted no part in the assimilation of the white culture. She admits, “I had arrived in the wonderful land of rosy skies, but I was not happy, as I thought I should be” (430). The way the “palefaces” cut off all the Indian girl’s hair felt like they were dehumanizing her and taking away her culture forcing her to submit to the white culture. She says, “Our mothers had taught us that only unskilled warriors who were captured had their hair shingled by the enemy” (431). This dehumanization forces her to “loose her spirit” and she feels like “one of many animals driven by a herder” (431). Although she is receiving an education, which is a huge part of achieving the American Dream, I don’t think being forced into an education qualifies “living the American Dream.” She says multiple times how this new school is affecting her in negative ways. She refers to “chains which tightly bound [her] individuality like a mummy for burial” (434). I think the American Dream is something that people made a conscience decision to achieve, they knew what they wanted, and knew how to achieve it whereas Zitkala-Sa is being forced into education and what the white man views as the American Dream while sacrificing her beliefs, culture, and ways of life. However, I think this changes in part VII as she receives a diploma and is in college about to compete in a competition for which her mother is against. This time Zitkala-Sa wants to achieve the American Dream and is even willing to go against her mother’s will to achieve it. She even ends up winning prizes in both competitions even though some audience members show prejudice against her. I think that in this part of her story the American Dream is prevalent as she is fighting against all odds to achieve her dream.
No comments:
Post a Comment