Reading Notes: Native American Marriage Tales, Part B
I did not like, in the first story, how the village left the girl to die even though her pregnancy was not her fault. The story says the dog laid with her without her knowledge every night. I would change this so that they did not abandon her, but no one wanted to marry her as she was seen dirty for lying with a dog. She would live alone on the outskirts of the village and the others would only notice her and her family when the whales built up on the shore.
Of the second story, I liked the idea of revival and being able to sustain others with your own body without dying. It would be an interesting piece to use in my story, but I'm not sure what else to do with this tale. I really didn't like the way the man left his family for another one when he just happened across them in the woods. I think it would have been better if it had been a trap, and after luring him away from his family, the deer turned the tables and killed the hunter.
I understand the third story is meant to explain part of the real world, but I was unhappy with the ending. I would have had the turkey girl return to her turkeys as she was supposed to. She would marry one of the suitors from the dance, and when they were married, her one request would be to continue to care for the turkeys despite their wealth. She and the turkeys would remain good friends for the rest of their lives.
In the last story, I would not have my protagonist be tricked into believing she gave birth to animals. This makes no sense. I'd have the stepmother hand her stillborn babies from other women instead. She would think there was something wrong with her. Also, what is up with this story and spitting??? If I rewrote this, I'd have a servant or maid inform the girl that her real children are hidden from her. Instead of her husband killing his wife, he would kill the stepmother for being deceitful and hateful.
Image Information: Deer, Source: Pexels
Bibliography: Tales of the North American Indians by Stith Thompson, link to the reading online.
Of the second story, I liked the idea of revival and being able to sustain others with your own body without dying. It would be an interesting piece to use in my story, but I'm not sure what else to do with this tale. I really didn't like the way the man left his family for another one when he just happened across them in the woods. I think it would have been better if it had been a trap, and after luring him away from his family, the deer turned the tables and killed the hunter.
I understand the third story is meant to explain part of the real world, but I was unhappy with the ending. I would have had the turkey girl return to her turkeys as she was supposed to. She would marry one of the suitors from the dance, and when they were married, her one request would be to continue to care for the turkeys despite their wealth. She and the turkeys would remain good friends for the rest of their lives.
In the last story, I would not have my protagonist be tricked into believing she gave birth to animals. This makes no sense. I'd have the stepmother hand her stillborn babies from other women instead. She would think there was something wrong with her. Also, what is up with this story and spitting??? If I rewrote this, I'd have a servant or maid inform the girl that her real children are hidden from her. Instead of her husband killing his wife, he would kill the stepmother for being deceitful and hateful.
Image Information: Deer, Source: Pexels
Bibliography: Tales of the North American Indians by Stith Thompson, link to the reading online.
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