Q. Discover as many allusions as you can to historical references (people and events), literary references (characters and authors), and mythical references (symbols and metaphors).
I will be referencing pages 28-37 from the Bantam 1994 edition of Green Grass, Running Water. To see which edition this is, click here. In this passage, Lionel gives an account of what was supposed to be a surgery to remove his tonsils, but almost turned into open heart surgery instead. I chose this passage because as I was reading the text, I felt that this story was odd, funny, and nearly unbelievable.
Dr. Loomis
Dr. Loomis is nicknamed the Frog Doctor by Martha Old Crow for his incredibly long tongue that does not seem able to stay still. The Frog as an animal is often regarded as a symbol for healing, as well as transformation and transition. Martha’s nickname draws the reader’s attention to Dr. Loomis as a healer, but also gives room to think about his position as a symbol of transformation or transition for Lionel. At the beginning of this passage, Lionel indicates that this story (of almost receiving heart surgery) is one of three mistakes he made in his life. Having learned from the mistake of “playing these kinds of games” (King 33), this story marks a maturation for Lionel. Moreover, Dr. Loomis also marks the physical transition of Lionel from treating a sore throat at home, to ending up in the hospital which ultimately lead to his transfer to Toronto. Transformation however, is not always a clean slate. Like stories that transform piece by piece across time and space, Lionel’s mistake transformed into consequences with his health records 14 years later.
Other ‘Loomis’ references include: Oswald ‘The Prankster’ Loomis (Superman Comics); Dr. Samuel Loomis (in the original Halloween movie series 1978-1995); and Sam Loomis (the boyfriend of Mary in the novel Psycho by Robert Bloch). However, these references do not seem as pertinent for the reader as Martha’s Frog acknowledgment. The allusions present are to a supervillain (i.e. the prankster), a protagonist who becomes an archenemy (in Halloween), and a person who is suspect (in psycho). The thread through these three references is a character who is at odds with other people. This represents Dr. Loomis well, as he is a white doctor (who studied in Toronto) that comes to the reserve once a week to mend to the ill (although most people prefer to see Martha Old Crow, who suspects Dr. Loomis is sad about not having very many patients). In this passage, both Auntie Norma and Lionel’s mother speak about Dr. Loomis as a ridiculous choice of healer in comparison to Martha or Jesse Many Guns. This relationship (particularly when paired with Dr. Loomis’ arrogance) is an evident metaphor for colonialism.
John Wayne
When Charlie asks Lionel, “what would John Wayne do?” he is referring to the famous actor John Wayne who primarily acted in colonial western films that were known for being “anti-Indian.” This reference also reminds readers of Lionel’s desire to be John Wayne and deny his own “Indianness” (Flick 147). While this literary reference is very significant and much more direct than those of Dr. Loomis, there is little else to be read into it outside of its acting as a metaphor for Lionel being uncomfortable with his Indianness, and calling colonialism into question.
Works Cited
Flick, Jane. “Reading Notes for Thomas King’s Green Grass Running Water.” Canadian Literature 161-162. (1999): 140-172.
King, Thomas. Green Grass, Running Water. Bantam, 1994.