Danilo Roque Felipe

docx

School

Miami Dade College, Miami *

*We aren’t endorsed by this school

Course

1102

Subject

Accounting

Date

Apr 3, 2024

Type

docx

Pages

2

Uploaded by PresidentMoon11321

Report
Roque Felipe 1 Danilo Roque Felipe ENC1102 Professor Dr. Marina Rodriguez March 22nd, 2024 1. What is the meaning of the advice the son gives his father in “The Shawl”? The advice the son gives his father in "The Shawl" holds a deeper meaning than just a practical suggestion. The son urges his father to burn his sister's shawl, stating, "Send it off to cloak her spirit" (Erdrich). This advice goes beyond simply letting go of a material possession. It represents the son's understanding that his father needs to release his grief and guilt over their sister's sacrifice. By burning the shawl, a symbol of his sister, the father can begin to move forward and potentially find peace. 2. How does this advice heal the intergenerational trauma experienced by the characters? The son's advice to burn the shawl can be a first step towards healing the intergenerational trauma in "The Shawl" for two reasons: Breaking the Cycle of Silence: By urging his father to talk about their sister's death and the shawl's significance, the son initiates open communication. This breaks the cycle of silence that often perpetuates trauma within families. The story portrays the emotional distance between the father and son, likely caused by unspoken grief. Talking about the shawl forces them to confront the trauma together. The text hints at this unspoken pain when the narrator describes his father: "The father had stopped his ears, so he did not hear his son cry out when he suddenly
Roque Felipe 2 understood that he would be left behind” (Erdrich). This emotional detachment might be a result of the trauma they both carry. Letting Go of the Past: Burning the shawl, a physical embodiment of their loss, symbolizes the father's willingness to let go of the past and the intense grief he carries. Holding onto the shawl keeps the memory of the sister fresh and hinders their ability to move forward. Releasing the shawl allows them to acknowledge the loss while starting to heal. The son even argues, "Don't you think she lifted her shawl and flew?” (Erdrich), suggesting a more practical reason, but it also implies a deeper message. Letting go of the physical object, the shawl, might be the first step towards letting go of the emotional burden it carries. 3. How is the story both true about the specific people in the story and about the Native American experience? Erdrich's "The Shawl" balances personal tragedy with broader themes. The shawl personalizes the story of a grieving family-describing them as “people who lived widely scattered, along the shores and in the islands, even out on the plains” (Erdrich)-while their poverty and unspoken pain echo the hardships of Native Americans. The father's unresolved grief reflects generational trauma, a common theme, and the story's very form – a passed-down tale – highlights the importance of storytelling in Native American culture.
Your preview ends here
Eager to read complete document? Join bartleby learn and gain access to the full version
  • Access to all documents
  • Unlimited textbook solutions
  • 24/7 expert homework help