In the novel, Medicine River, Thomas King creates a story of a little communityto reflect the whole native nation. A simply return of Will’s makes the littletown seem to be more colourful. “Medicine River makes non-native readersthink a little longer and harder about the lives of the first people they liveamong and the places they inhabit. ” As a non-native reader, it is extradifficult to feel and understand the book because we didn’t go through all thesteps.
Although Will starts like a foreigner, he becomes part of the uniquecommunity eventually. Medicine River shows the past history of Canada andteaches readers to learn from the past experience in order to become betterpeople. Will is the main character in the novel, Medicine River. The whole storystarts with a native photojournalist returns to his reservation for his mother’sfuneral he discovers the strength of his background. Will does not live in thereserve, Medicine River, because his father is a white person.
After 20 years,Will returns. After he opens the photo studio in the reserve, he feels like homeagain. Doing business and playing basketball makes Will become a member of thelittle Indian town. The people who help Will the most are Harlen, Louise andJoyce. Harlen is the one who always wants to make Will feel better.
The photostudio ; basketball team are Harlen’s idea. Louise is the true love thatWill falls for. When Joyce asks Will to be in the photo, that really impressesWill a lot. Finally, Will finds his career, love and friends in the reserveafter 20 years.
Harlen is Will’s friend and he is a very easy going man. He isalways running around helping people to solve the problems. He runs the coachposition on team Medicine River Friendship Centre Warriors” after no bodywants to do the job. In order to make Will feel home, Harlen forces Will to playsome basketball on the team although Will is not a good player. Leadership isthe main idea that Harlen is trying to pass to Will. When Louise breaks up withher ex-boyfriend and gets pregnant, Harlen purposely set Louise and Will up.
Heasks Will to take a good care of Louise and her unborn baby. Harlen also triesto sell Will on the idea of returning to Medicine River to open shop as the onlynative photographer in the quite, little, mountain town. Louise Heavyman showsthe strong, independent and confident sides of a woman. She owns a financecompany which is well known in the reserve. Louise is a pretty woman who nevergets married.
Harlen describes her as, “Good looking woman, Will. Stronghips. You know, for children. Tall, too. Always good to have a tallwoman. “(P.
27) Harlen tries to help Louise by sending Will to have a datewith her. However, Louise does not need any help from anyone else. She tellsWill about her thoughts, “He was real nice, but I didn’t want to getmarried. I think he thought when I got pregnant that I’d change mymind. “(P. 34) Louise also reminds Will of his mother, Rose.
She raised Willand James by herself and Louise is trying to raise South Wing alone. No matterhow strong, independent and confident Louise is, she realizes that she lovesWill and she changes herself a lot after being with Will. Eventually, Louisedecides to start her new live with Will. Even though Louise is not the maincharacter of the novel, she plays a very important roll.
The characteristic ofLouise’s represents the soul of a modern woman, especially of a modern nativewoman. In the novel, Medicine River, after a long period of twenty years, Willstill goes back to where he belongs. It does not only happen in an Indian town,but pretty much everywhere else in the world. It is because of the native peopleare too afraid to accept the foreigners. Once the foreigners spend some timethere, people will start to accept and understand the foreigners.
Medicine Riverlooks like a regular story to me, but I can feel that there is something greatbehind the story. Unfortunately, I just don’t know how to put it in words. It isa good story. Thomas King writes down the book to reflect the whole humannature. In order to improve, we have to encourage ourselves to try and acceptnew things.
All the Canadian should be proud of the book because they are thenation with the courage to accept, learn and try things from around the world.
