I was instructed to read Roughing it in the Backwoods as well as her sister Catherin Parr Traill’s story for a Canadian literature class two semesters ago. I have linked her sisters book The back woods of Canada, you may find it interesting to compare both stories! I enjoyed learning about Moodie’s experience and responses to the culture shock, the difficulties, and the pleasures of immigration and pioneer life. With many unpleasant experiences, she gives a sober reflection on the hazards of immigration but offers some praise of Canada as a refuge for the poor (of England) and as having the potential to be a great country.
After reading the introduction and first chapter, the readers will defiantly get a sense of the entitlement Moodie feels as she lands upon Grosse Island. Moodie describes the utter pandemonium of people at the islands shore, “literally stunned by the strife of tongues” (Moodie, 2003). Moodie goes on to describe the people of the island (Irish and First Nations) as they “appeared perfectly destitute of shame, or even of a sense of common decency. Many were almost naked, still more but partially clothed. We turned in disgust from the revolting scene” (Moodie, 2003). Using words such as revolting, disgust, and shame, really gives the reader a sense of Moodie’s claim to hierarchy at the time as she sees herself as socially above all of these people and their lifestyles. Here, she is bringing with her the ideals and norms she grew up with in England, not realizing that this island and her new home do not follow the same social principles.
Moodie also makes reference to the Garden of Eden a couple times during her story. The first being in the poem about Canada at the beginning, the second when she first views the island “basking in the bright rays of the morning sun, the island and its sister group looked like a second Eden just emerged from the waters of chaos” (Moodie, 2003). She completely disregards the island as a place that other people may already call home and does not once see herself as an invader of it. Instead, the island is a God-send, basked in sunlight as if God was shining a spotlight on it from heaven. This is a good example of the narrow minded visions that many explorers and immigrants had when they first arrived in Canada.
In Thomas King’s Green Grass, Running Water, Susanna Moodie is modernized as a polite, traveling Canadian named Sue. She is accompanied by three other friends, two men and a woman who all are proud that “none of us is American” (158). The four friendly travellers have stopped at the Dead Dog Café and are being served by Latisha, who makes polite conversation with her guests and finds out that they are “roughing it” on “an adventure” ( alluding to Moodie’s story Roughing it in the Bush), and are hoping to see some First Nations people. This peculiar desire would normally not be understood or accepted as politically correct in Vancouver today. First Nations people are not objects in a museum that you can openly view and discuss. However, since King’s entire novel is filled with satire, this strange yearning of the four travellers is something to be expected. It also seems like Sue is almost mummifying the “noble but vanishing Indian”, as she proudly proclaims that her accompanying friend Polly is part Indian and a writer. This leaves the reader to wonder if Polly is going to attempt to document their “adventure” and encounters with First Nations peoples just as Moodie did in the 1800’s.
At the end of Latisha’s encounter with the four travellers, she discovers that they have left her a twenty dollar tip and a book, The Shagganappi. I googled the title and discovered it online here, written by Emily Pauline Johnson (Polly for short?), and is a collection of what seems to be short stories about First Nations people here in Canada.
Works Cited
Johnson, Emily Pauline. The Shagganappi. Canadian Poetry. Online. February 13, 2015. <http://www.canadianpoetry.ca/abteds.htm>
Kings, Thomas. Green Grass Running Water. Toronto: Harper Collins, 1993. Print.
Moodie, Susanna. Roughing it in the Bush.. Project Gutenburg, 18 January 2004. Web. 9 Apr 2013
Traill, Cathrerin Parr. The Backwoods of Canada. Gutenburg. Online. February 13, 2015. http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/13559
Hi Leana,
I also answered this question and not a lot of us seem to have (of the many blogs I’ve read, yours is the only other one that did). “Polly” in King’s novel is indeed E. Pauline Johnson. All four of the travellers took their names from real people, but I can only recognize three of them. You may find these Reading Notes helpful as Green Grass, Running Water is packed with allusions!
E. Pauline Johnson is an early Canadian poet who travelled across the country performing poems in traditional costume. She was a novelty act who somewhat “sold out” to the colonizers. Here are a couple of her poems, if you’re interested: “The Cattle Thief” and “The Ballad of Yaada”. What do you think of them? Can you see why King included E. Pauline Johnson with Susana Moodie and Grey Owl? What do these three have in common?
Works Cited:
Flick, Jane. “Reading Notes for Thomas King’s Green Grass, Running Water.” Canadian Literature Summer/Autumn 1999: 140-172. Google. Web. 21 Feb. 2015.
Johnson, E. Pauline. “The Ballad of Yaada.” Google. Web. 21 Feb. 2015.
Johnson, E. Pauline. “The Cattle Thief.” Google. Web. 21 Feb. 2015.
Hi Leana,
I was wondering if you might be interested in working with me for our Conference. Week after week I seem to comment on your blog due to our similar interests and your interesting take on things, so I’d love to work with you! I don’t really know who else to work with, but let me know if you have anyone in mind and we could build from there. I like to work in advance, but am busy so can’t do everything immediately (I’d rather take the time to do it well than rush through it). I will be in Winnipeg from March 4-8, so won’t be available then, but am otherwise keen to begin.
Are you in Vancouver? Perhaps we could meet on campus someday to discuss things.
Heather
Hi Heather,
Sounds great! I was actually planning on asking you as well 🙂
I don’t actually have anyone else in mind at the moment (its groups of 4?), but I’m open to whoever. Have you asked anyone else?
I also like to do work in advance, and I will be away in Hawaii from the 4-11 so this is perfect! I am on campus every Tuesday/Thursday but I can come there to meet on other days if that works better for you/ our other future group members.
No, I was waiting for your reply before asking anyone else. I’m on campus Monday/Wednesday/Friday, but can bus out another day if that works better for everyone else 🙂 My classes are in the afternoon, so it’d have to be a Monday/Wednesday/Friday morning (my first class is at noon). I don’t really know who else to ask, although I’ve been having an interesting discussion with Stuart this week and have had an interesting discussion with Charlotte before. Have you had any interesting discussions with anyone? Would you be interested in working with Stuart and/or Charlotte?
Enjoy your trip to Hawaii!
Ok sounds like we are both flexible so that’s great! I’m a pretty adaptable person, and I’m not too picky about the last two members of our group, as long as everyone doesn’t mind waiting until after march 11 (when I return) to get started!. You can go ahead an ask both Stuart and Charlotte if you like, I have taken a look at their blogs and we seem to have some common understandings 🙂
Jeff has just gotten in touch with me to see if I’d be interested in working with him. I had a class with him last semester, so we have a shared background in Media Studies. Would you be interested in working with him?
Hi Heather and Leana!
I would love to join the two of you for our project endeavor! I’m on campus Monday Wednesday Friday typically morning to afternoon. Mondays and Wednesdays I have to leave campus right after classes at 2PM, but I’m sure we can do some work on the other days. On top of that, I’m sure most of our work and research can be done and coordinated online!
Let’s look into working together.
Thanks!
Hey Jeff and Heather! sounds good to me 🙂 Im pretty flexible Jeff and as you said, Im sure most of our work can be done online anyways.
Ok so now we just need 1 more group member!
Hi Leana & Jeff,
I’ve just asked Charlotte if she’d be interested in joining our team. Will let you know if I hear anything! If she says no, I will ask Stuart (unless I hear anything from either of you).
Have a good Sunday 🙂
Heather
Hello all,
Not sure if Charlotte has already accepted your invitation but in the event that she hasn’t I would love to join your team. I have had the pleasure of communicating with all of you and think that we have the makings of a great team. Since I am employed full-time I am only available evenings and weekends. I suspect on line coordination will be the bulk of our correspondence.
Let me know if there is still room. If not, then good luck to all of you. 🙂
S
Hey Stuart,
Charlotte has declined, so you’re in! Welcome to the team! I work evenings and Saturdays, but am free some evenings and Sundays, so I’m sure we can find the time to meet up if we need to and/or just work online. I’m not sure what Leana and Jeff’s work schedules are like, so meeting in person could get complicated.
I’ll be in Winnipeg from Wednesday to Sunday and Leana will be away Wednesday to Wednesday (I believe?), but I’m keen to get started once we’re both back. Perhaps we can take the next week to brainstorm ideas?
Should I go ahead and send our names to Dr. Paterson?
Heather
I’ve made a Facebook group for our team, but can’t add Stuart as your profile is too private. Here’s the link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1039532869396858/ 🙂
Heather
Thanks Heather, I have now joined the group. Hope you both enjoy your trips this week. Let’s chat when everyone is back.
Cheers
S
Hey – great to see you have all formed a group together, wonderful. Can I join you Facebook page?
Hi Dr Paterson,
Of course you can 🙂 unfortunately I tried adding you but was unsuccessful. I am also lacking in Facebook skills so maybe Heather can give it a go since she created the group!