The Underdog Prevails in Indian Legends

Page
5

Blindness is not easy to accept but with the love and support of his grandfather, Boy-Strength-of-the-Blue Horses in Knots on a Counting Rope overcomes his weakness and sees with his heart. He walks in darkness but the light in his heart is brighter than any others in his tribe. It takes the belief of his grandfather to ‘open his eyes’. The Rough-Face girl and Star Boy are like Boy-Strength-of-the-Blue Horses. They are not blind but they are physically scarred. Each have scars and ugly markings that cause them to walk in darkness. Living in the darkness of doubt and taunting of ridicule. Yet, the belief and love of a beautiful, caring being, much like grandfather, provides the light needed to find their inner and outward beauty.

Pocahontas is the last character to consider and she ,in appearance, is different then all these characters. She is a beautiful princess and is well liked by her tribe. She does not follow the ‘principle of the package’ but the white men in this story do. They are weak and vulnerable strangers in the new land. Pocahontas sees the white men and longs to learn about them. She is instrumental in saving the captive white man from being killed by her tribe and father, the Chief. The white men survive the long winter because of Pocahontas’ care and support. They befriend Pocahontas and give her gifts and knowledge of their homeland, England. Even though Pocahontas is beautiful outward she proves to have a beautiful character as well. Beautiful packages can house beautiful treasures.

click

www.sliderbase.com

Slide 17

Symbolism

In The Legend of the Bluebonnet the girl’s doll symbolizes her lost family. The doll gives her the love and comfort she so desires from her family. In sacrificing her doll, she gains the love of her entire people and she is honored. She now belongs. In The Girl Who Loved Wild Horses the horse symbolizes family and freedom. The girl wants to run and live with the horses making her spirit wild and free. She sees them as her family. The girl’s true parents let her go because she symbolizes their desire to run wild and free amongst their distant relatives.

In Knots on a Counting Rope the knots on the rope symbolize sight. Every time the grandfather shares the boy’s story, of his birth and name, the boy’s eyes are opened further to see his strength and power to overcome darkness. The grandfather knows that his love will always surround his grandson and the counting rope will forever remind the boy that he can see through the darkness.

click

www.sliderbase.com

Slide 18

Star Boy and The Rough-Face Girl’s scars and ugliness symbolize shunning of others. People could not see past the scars and accept them for the beautiful spirits they are. I believe many people have scars and feel shunned and not accepted. Hopefully when reading these stories they can find acceptance in their inner beauty and strength just as Star Boy and Rough-Face Girl does.