Close Analysis: Cultural Differences

The world is forever changing around us, sometimes for the better, sometimes for the worse. Thomas King, Author of "Green Grass Running Water" shows how the world is changing for the worse. He shares his opinion on the American culture through his perceptions of religious stories, characters, and symbolism in the text. Thomas King wants the reader to absorb that Native American culture has grown fain in the midst of a Caucasian society.

In the beginning of the novel biblical references are made to show Christian domination of the land. Thomas King includes an alternative perspective of the story “Adam and Eve”. In Thomas King’s version First Woman falls into the Water World with Ahdamn and they live together in a garden. The character GOD comes into the story and begins to protest the actions of both Ahdamn and First Woman. The narrator says, “Wait a minute, says that GOD. That’s my garden. That’s my stuff” (43). Right away King shows that a domination of GOD is occurring by GOD claiming the garden as his own. Much like Caucasian society historically and today. The culture is possessive and dominating. The next story written is of “Noah’s Ark”. In this retelling Changing Woman falls onto Noah’s boat full of animals and poop. Noah becomes defensive when Changing Woman converses with the animals. Noah says, “ Why are you talking to animals? Says the little man. This is a Christian ship. Animals don’t talk. We got rules” (160). King shows that the dominant Christian religion is unable to negotiate and accept differences. Society believes their ideas are the right ideas and will outcast anyone who thinks differently. Noah shouts, “This is a Christian ship, he shouts. I am a Christian man. This is a Christian Journey. And if you can’t follow our rules, then you’re not wanted on the voyage” (163). According to Thomas King the domination of religion and ideas in the beginning is where the Indian culture began to loose it’s stance.

The characters in the novel are examples of Native Americans that loose a sense of their heritage and want to be apart of Caucasian culture. Charlie Looking Bear is a prime example. He represents the “figure of success”; he drives a Porsche, lives in a penthouse, and works at a law firm. Charlie becomes increasingly disconnected with the tribe and begins to think about himself as separate from the rest of them. Alberta says to Charlie, “ You know that the tribe isn’t going to make any money off the entire deal” (126). Charlie replies, “Then some of us should, don’t you think?” (126). His acting alone shows the increasing cultural distance even among existing Native Americans. Caucasian society has changed the characters in the novel to think more about themselves than others. Another character in the novel that sends a strong message is Charlie’s father Portland. Movies and television shows are something that Caucasian society has dominated. Portland had a burning desire to become a part of it. Charlie asks Portland, “If you could go anywhere in the world…where would you go?” (240). Portland responds clearly, “I’d like to go to Hollywood” (240). Portland’s obsession with becoming a part of Hollywood and the lifestyle led him to completely desert his family. He lost all pride in his own self and was even willing to change the way his nose looked for society’s liking. The characters in the novel "Green Grass Running Water" show how much Caucasian culture has an influence on them.

The dam, which is built on Parliament Lake, is symbolic to the way Caucasian society operates. Through religious ideas and cultural ideas Caucasian culture dominates other cultures. They built the dam on the reservation to develop and dominate the area and to impose their ideas about money and government. Sifton, a supporter of the dam says to Eli, “They don’t have personalities, and they don’t have politics. They store water, and they create electricity, that’s it” (120). Eli replies, “ So how come so many of them are built on Indian land?” (120). The dam represents how politics and Caucasian society still impose on the Indian’s culture. When the dam breaks the ideas of society flow onto the Native American land, destroying parts of their history and culture. What King is trying to say is that the more Caucasian culture begins to grow and take over the more likely Native American culture is likely to be washed away. The water washing over the reservation is the way King feels that American culture. It spills all over other cultures and sweeps them away with their power and domination. That is why King chooses to destroy the cabin in the end. He writes, “ It was a little over a month before the waters went down. The cabin was gone, the logs scattered along the course of the flood” (459). He wants to show that American culture is erasing Native American culture with their influences.

The views and practices of Caucasian culture have greatly affected Native American culture. As a writer Thomas King wanted to show readers the perspective of a Native American man caught in the midst of the 20th century. He wanted the reader to dig deep into his motives and find that the Native American culture is getting fainter and fainter. King sends a very powerful message, “This is a Christian world, you know. We only kill things that are useful or things we don’t like” (219). He feels that the domination of Caucasian culture is destroying a part of his own.