From the River's Edge: Analysis of Major Characters
"From the River's Edge: Analysis of Major Characters" delves into the complex lives of individuals on the Crow Creek Indian Reservation, particularly focusing on John Tatekeya, a Dakota cattle rancher grappling with the impacts of cultural assimilation and loss. Tatekeya's struggle to reconcile traditional Dakota values with the realities of modern legal systems is central to his character. As he seeks justice for the theft of his cattle, he confronts not only the external challenges of the court but also personal flaws and the betrayal by a relative, Jason Big Pipe.
The narrative also introduces Aurelia Blue, Tatekeya's younger lover, who embodies the longing for cultural heritage while dealing with her own loneliness. Rose Tatekeya, his wife, represents the traditional bonds of marriage and the strength found in enduring familial ties, even amidst upheaval. Through memories of figures like Benno, who symbolizes the unyielding spirit of Dakota traditions, the text paints a rich portrait of the interplay between past and present. Jason Big Pipe's conflicting loyalties reveal the tension between familial duty and ethical conduct, while Walter Cunningham, the lawyer, reflects the misunderstandings that can arise in cross-cultural encounters. Overall, the analysis invites readers to consider the profound implications of identity, loyalty, and the quest for justice within a changing world.
From the River's Edge: Analysis of Major Characters
Author: Elizabeth Cook-Lynn
First published: 1991
Genre: Novel
Locale: On and near the Crow Creek Indian Reservation in South Dakota
Plot: Regional
Time: The late 1960's
John Tatekeya (tah-TAY-kee-yah), a Dakota cattle rancher on the Crow Creek Indian Reservation in South Dakota. Tatekeya has watched with sadness and regret as his culture changed through assimilation with the white culture. The Missouri River, harnessed by a series of dams for water power, now covers some valuable Dakota lands, and Christianity has made inroads, with many Dakota replacing the traditional worship of the Four Winds. Tatekeya, in his sixties, longs for the old days and ways but realizes they are gone. He struggles to live by the old values but finds it difficult in the midst of so many changes. A successful rancher until almost half of his herd is stolen, Tatekeya decides to seek redress in court. He soon discovers that the justice sought in a court of law is contrary to his own values. As his own flaws of laziness, drunkenness, and unfaithfulness are brought out in court, Tatekeya finds himself, rather than the defendant, on trial. Although Tatekeya wins his case, he feels that he loses when Jason Big Pipe, a neighboring Dakota and a relative through ritual, testifies falsely against him. Realizing that American legal justice is not what he wants, Tatekeya risks a mistrial to discover the motives of the Big Pipe brothers. Family and cultural ties are more important to Tatekeya than the verdict.
Aurelia Blue, Tatekeya's lover for many years. Although she is more than thirty years younger than Tatekeya, Blue also longs for the old Dakota ways and culture. She is a solitary woman who cares for her elderly grandparents. She, by nature, feels the loneliness of existence and comes to accept the idea that nothing—not even attempting to hold on to old values—can assuage her loneliness or provide her with peace. She realizes that her relationship with Tatekeya must end and accepts Jason Big Pipe's attentions despite his betrayal of her lover in court.
Rose Tatekeya, Tatekeya's wife, who after thirty years of marriage moves into town to live with her married daughter. She stops attending the trial once her husband's relationship with Aurelia Blue is mentioned in court. Once the trial is over, she returns to her husband to continue their life together. Theirs was a traditional arranged marriage, one of the last in their community, and they respect each other and the bond that their marriage symbolizes.
Benno, a Dakota who appears in the novel only through Tatekeya's memory. As a child, Tatekeya hunted geese with Benno, who was an old man at the time. Tatekeya remembers Benno as a teacher and singer and as a man of ethical influence. He epitomizes for Tatekeya the old ways and the ideal. Benno, holding fast to tradition, refused to choose or accept an allotment of land when the Missouri River Power Project took over the Dakota land.
Jason Big Pipe, a young man related to Tatekeya; his grandfather and Tatekeya's father participated in a ceremony making them brothers. Jason Big Pipe testifies falsely against Tatekeya at the trial and successfully woos Aurelia Blue after the trial begins. Once the case is over, Big Pipe reveals to Tatekeya that he testified falsely to protect his own brother, who had taken part in the cattle theft. Despite his false testimony, Big Pipe also reveres Dakota values, including the importance of responsibility to family and to communal life.
Walter Cunningham, Tatekeya's lawyer, a district attorney born to Quaker parents in New Haven, Connecticut. He occasionally represents Native Americans but does not understand how the trial undermines Tatekeya's values. Cunningham underestimates Tatekeya's intelligence and moral code.