Find three examples of names that need to be spoken aloud in order to catch the allusion. Discuss the examples as well as the reading technique that requires you to read aloud in order to make connections. Why does King want us to read aloud?

In his novel Green Grass Running Water, King blends together the significance of form, content and characters. King’s writing style mimics the novels intention to blur the distinction between the ‘mythical’ and ‘realistic,’ and demonstrate the often-unexplored compatibility of tradition and modernity.  King provides a stage that allows the western listener/reader an opportunity to experience, and better understand Indigenous storytelling.

One of the ways that King unites First Nations story traditions and Western literary practice is through the naming of his characters. Throughout the novel there are characters whose names directly connect them to the hero’s and characters of western stories, for example Robinson Crusoe, Hawkeye, or Lone Ranger.  However, King also uses names, and their oral pronunciation, to allude to figures, interpretations, and beliefs within western literature; three characters with such names are Sally Jo Weyha, Polly Hantos, and of course Dr. Joseph Hovaugh.

Sally Jo Weyha and Polly Hantos are allusions to Sacajawea and Pocahontas. With these allusions King is referencing the patronizing categorization and demeaning sexualization of these women in western literature and media. Sacajawea, who was an important guide and interpreter for Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, is often depreciated in fiction and western film to a love interest for Lewis or Clark, for example in the film The Far Horizon. Pocahontas, the young daughter of Chief Powhatan and a successful mediator between the Powhatan communities and western settlers, is most famously misrepresented in Disney’s 1995 rendition Pocahontas, where she is portrayed as the ‘free-spirited’ love interest of John Smith.  In both situations the significance of these strong Native women, who played vital roles in interpretation and mediation between colonizers and Indigenous peoples, is depreciated to being the love interest for a white man. The parallel  to this sexualization and deprecation of these women is directly seen in Kings characters, who are actresses who have been pigeonholed by Hollywood into playing the western stereotypical ‘Indian’.

Dr. Joseph Hovaugh (aka Joe Hovaugh), is a clear allusion “Jehovah” or God. King is using this character to embody a range of associations and relationships between the western God and Indigenous peoples. The name brings with it the association with missionaries and their need to ‘save’ Native peoples through forced acceptance of their ideals, principles and religion. These missionaries assumed an authoritative role and granted themselves the right to impose their “revelations” onto Native communities, while they strongly opposed any opposition to their belief or opinions. This concept of imposed revelations and forcing conflicting ideals and principles on Native peoples parallels Dr.Hovaugh’s character and position in the novel; he is  an authority figure who hates having his opinion or authority challenged.

All three of these characters’ names allude to ideas and concepts that help develop a deeper understanding of the character and their position in the novel. Something I enjoy about King’s use of these names is that when they are written on a page the allusion is not overtly obvious, but when they are read aloud the intended allusion is very clear. This technique creates a deeper relationship between the author and the reader as the reader uncovers the multiple facets of connection and understanding. This technique allows the reader to engage in the text beyond the simple silent reading; it encourages the reader to, not only listen to the stories, but to engage in a type of performance with the words. While reading, and looking to find these areas of connection I found myself reading all the names aloud; often repeating them, merging sounds and mushing pronunciation in an almost performative manner, looking for ways to uncover the allusions. 

Works Cited

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History.com Staff. “Sacagawea.” History.com. A&E Television Networks, 2010.

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Kaye, Frances W. Hiding the Audience: Viewing Arts & Arts Institutions on the

Prairies. Edmonton, Alta., Canada: U of Alberta, 2003.

King, Thomas. Green Grass Running Water. Toronto: Harper Collins, 1993. Print.

United States. National Park Service. “Pocahontas: Her Life and Legend.” National

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