The True Meaning of The Story Catcher and The Education of Little Tree
Two different books, two different stories, yet are they similar in meaning? The Story Catcher by Mari Sandoz and The Education of Little Tree by Forest Carter give insight into Native American life and allow readers to empathize with the characters and the character’s tribe. The meaning that comes from both of these books disproves the Native American’s stereotypes that they are uncivilized savage Indians and shows the real complexity in their civilizations. The first way these authors give this insight is that the titles of the books state each story’s deeper meaning. The second way is that The Story Catcher and The Education of Little Tree give realistic views on the Native Americans’ way of life and how they live. In the third and final insight, the authors depict the main characters valuing their own way of life and culture. Through these three different ways the authors enable readers to move beyond stereotypes and realize the depth and complexity of Native Americans and their cultures.
The Story Catcher. The Education of Little Tree. These names give major insights into the stories, as the authors chose these powerful titles to reveal that Native American culture is something to be cherished, protected, and remembered. The Story Catcher’s name shines light on the fact that the main character, Lance, wants to become the tribe’s historian recording events through pictures. During the course of the book, Lance goes on many adventures, some of which lead him to honor, and others that lead him to shame. Regardless of the consequences, Lance learns and grows both mentally and physically. On one of his many adventures, Lance is injured and unable to move so he draws pictures, essentially catching the stories of his life. Lance is a very dynamic and complex character and growing up was very hard for him, but going through personal ups and downs allowed him to gain many experiences and eventually find the right place in the community as an historian; a “story catcher”. Similarly, the meaning of the title of the first person narrative, The Education of Little Tree, is about how Little Tree, a 6-year-old living with his grandparents, is taught how to live the “Cherokee way” or in his Grandpa’s words, how one “ought to live.” Little Tree is also taught by his Grandma how to read and learns new words from the dictionary. While that is his formal education, the other way that he lives as any Cherokee kid would live, spending the whole day rambling around in the mountains and learning the ways of nature. The title of both books show that it is important to teach and value Native American culture, as the meanings of the titles emphasize the central idea that the cultures of the Sioux and Cherokee should be celebrated, loved and remembered.
Further, these fun, interesting, and realistic stories depict the events that Lance and Little Tree experience and all of the problems that any normal person would go through. Thus, the stories move past misconceptions and stereotypes giving a realistic view into Natives American’s complex cultures. The Story Catcher is set during the time period of westward expansion, with white settlements, conflicts and Native Americans being displaced from their homeland. During this time, Lance is trying to prove himself and by doing that gets into trouble, but also gains respect from his peers and elders. Just as all people go through ups and downs, Lance, is at some points well on his way to becoming a respected member of the tribe. Then he does something totally irrational, and is put to shame and has to start gaining respect from his peers and elders all over again by building up his community’s trust. This realistic depiction is mirrored by The Education of Little Tree, which showed the hard life of the Cherokee as they lived off the land. Little Tree learns many things, including that when hunting you should only take the weakest animals because if you were an animal you would do the same. Little Tree also helps out Grandma and Grandpa (who chose not to live on the reservation) with gathering roots, berries, and corn for food and the whiskey they would make and sell to the community to make a living. These realistic characters are neither demonized nor fantasized, which allows the reader to empathize with real people facing the normal difficulties of life.
Finally, as both main characters value their way of life and take care to learn every aspect of their culture, the stories argue that Native American cultures are complex and civilized. In The Story Catcher Lance is a part of the war parties; he learns how to fight, steal horses, and hunt. It is an expectation that boys learn how to be a warrior and Lance does so without a complaint. Even more so, Lance is also striving to become a tribal historian, encompassing different values as a Sioux. Similarly, Little Tree is learning the ways of a mountain man, how to live off the land and with nature, and at the same time is being taught formal education. Even though Lance lived in the nineteenth century and Little Tree lived during the 1930’s, they are both shown to follow and value their own culture. Thus, these realistic stories give an important insight which allows readers to know and understand Native American cultures.
Both The Story Catcher and The Education of Little Tree enable the reader to move past stereotypes and realize the importance and complexity of Native American culture. Through the meanings of the titles, the normal depictions of their lives, and the valuing of Native American culture the authors allow readers a realistic window into Native American life. Even though the books are incredibly different, the authors speak the same truth on having respect for their Native American characters and lifestyle. In doing so, the writers destroy simplistic stereotypes and give the world a more realistic perspective of two different Native American cultures. Hopefully, stories like these can help Native Americans’ and their culture regain some of their lost dignity.
The Story Catcher. The Education of Little Tree. These names give major insights into the stories, as the authors chose these powerful titles to reveal that Native American culture is something to be cherished, protected, and remembered. The Story Catcher’s name shines light on the fact that the main character, Lance, wants to become the tribe’s historian recording events through pictures. During the course of the book, Lance goes on many adventures, some of which lead him to honor, and others that lead him to shame. Regardless of the consequences, Lance learns and grows both mentally and physically. On one of his many adventures, Lance is injured and unable to move so he draws pictures, essentially catching the stories of his life. Lance is a very dynamic and complex character and growing up was very hard for him, but going through personal ups and downs allowed him to gain many experiences and eventually find the right place in the community as an historian; a “story catcher”. Similarly, the meaning of the title of the first person narrative, The Education of Little Tree, is about how Little Tree, a 6-year-old living with his grandparents, is taught how to live the “Cherokee way” or in his Grandpa’s words, how one “ought to live.” Little Tree is also taught by his Grandma how to read and learns new words from the dictionary. While that is his formal education, the other way that he lives as any Cherokee kid would live, spending the whole day rambling around in the mountains and learning the ways of nature. The title of both books show that it is important to teach and value Native American culture, as the meanings of the titles emphasize the central idea that the cultures of the Sioux and Cherokee should be celebrated, loved and remembered.
Further, these fun, interesting, and realistic stories depict the events that Lance and Little Tree experience and all of the problems that any normal person would go through. Thus, the stories move past misconceptions and stereotypes giving a realistic view into Natives American’s complex cultures. The Story Catcher is set during the time period of westward expansion, with white settlements, conflicts and Native Americans being displaced from their homeland. During this time, Lance is trying to prove himself and by doing that gets into trouble, but also gains respect from his peers and elders. Just as all people go through ups and downs, Lance, is at some points well on his way to becoming a respected member of the tribe. Then he does something totally irrational, and is put to shame and has to start gaining respect from his peers and elders all over again by building up his community’s trust. This realistic depiction is mirrored by The Education of Little Tree, which showed the hard life of the Cherokee as they lived off the land. Little Tree learns many things, including that when hunting you should only take the weakest animals because if you were an animal you would do the same. Little Tree also helps out Grandma and Grandpa (who chose not to live on the reservation) with gathering roots, berries, and corn for food and the whiskey they would make and sell to the community to make a living. These realistic characters are neither demonized nor fantasized, which allows the reader to empathize with real people facing the normal difficulties of life.
Finally, as both main characters value their way of life and take care to learn every aspect of their culture, the stories argue that Native American cultures are complex and civilized. In The Story Catcher Lance is a part of the war parties; he learns how to fight, steal horses, and hunt. It is an expectation that boys learn how to be a warrior and Lance does so without a complaint. Even more so, Lance is also striving to become a tribal historian, encompassing different values as a Sioux. Similarly, Little Tree is learning the ways of a mountain man, how to live off the land and with nature, and at the same time is being taught formal education. Even though Lance lived in the nineteenth century and Little Tree lived during the 1930’s, they are both shown to follow and value their own culture. Thus, these realistic stories give an important insight which allows readers to know and understand Native American cultures.
Both The Story Catcher and The Education of Little Tree enable the reader to move past stereotypes and realize the importance and complexity of Native American culture. Through the meanings of the titles, the normal depictions of their lives, and the valuing of Native American culture the authors allow readers a realistic window into Native American life. Even though the books are incredibly different, the authors speak the same truth on having respect for their Native American characters and lifestyle. In doing so, the writers destroy simplistic stereotypes and give the world a more realistic perspective of two different Native American cultures. Hopefully, stories like these can help Native Americans’ and their culture regain some of their lost dignity.