I have been assigned pages 247-259, which correspond to pages 296-311 in the HarperPerennial edition. In this section, Lionel, Eli, Bill, Charlie, and the Old Indians meet at the store. Meanwhile, Alberta encounters Connie at the Blossom Police Department, and remembers her father’s time in the tribal police.
Page 296: [Lionel’s] gold blazer had turned brown and smelled like a wet dog.
An allusion to Coyote, which foreshadows his imminent meeting with the Old Indians. King also likes using Lionel’s clothes to show the conflict between Lionel and his Indian heritage – see also the John Wayne jacket – and having his clothes resemble Coyote seems like definite points in the Indian column.
Page 297: “You’re making a puddle,” said Bursum.
Ack, I’ve been trying to research or figure out what the puddles (which the cars disappear into, and Lionel steps into when he exits the car) symbolize but am coming up blank. Anyway, Lionel’s wet clothes drip into a puddle here, which I’m certain is significant!
Page 298: “I’m going to show your other relations how the Map works…” “Everyone’s related, grandson,” said the Lone Ranger. “That’s right,” said Bursum. “That’s the way things are with Indians.”
Bill’s quote is a manifestation of the racism that permeates the novel in a pretty base form – assuming because they’re Indians, they are related or know each other. (Although, to be fair, calling Lionel ‘grandson’ can’t help.) The Lone Ranger’s comment references the interconnectedness of the novel and possibly their previous existence in the story of the Garden of Eden (if everyone is descended from Adam and Eve, everyone would be related).
Page 298: Bursum was already moving towards the Map with the old Indians in tow… It was a concept, a concept that lay at the heard of business and Western civilization. He had said some other things, but Lionel had forgotten exactly what they were.
Bill Bursum is a reference to former US Senator Holm O. Bursum, who drafted the Bursum Bill in the 1920s. The Bill gave non-Indians the right to any land they occupied before 1902, and gave state courts (generally pro-white) the ability to settle any land disputes. In other words, the Bill gave the whites the ability to recreate the map of the United States to their liking, which is what Bursum does with the display in his store. The ability to settle wherever they wish may be the “concept that lies at the heart… of Western civilization,” and I also think the grand (but ultimately empty) statements Bursum makes are meant to satirize a politician’s rhetoric.
Page 299-301: “Here’s a nice Sony. It’ll pull in the local stations. Should get CBC too.” … “This one,” said Lionel, “is the best we carry. On a good night you can hear New Zealand with this one.” “Don’t know that I want to hear New Zealand,” said Eli… “Probably the little one,” said Eli. “It’s not as large a world as people think.”
Lionel, who believes he must escape the reserve in order to find success or fulfillment, tries to upsell his uncle on the Panasonic radio that will let him listen to radio from around the world. Eli, who now recognizes the value of staying on the reserve, opts for the local radio instead. The “small world” comment echoes the “everyone’s related” comment in reference to the interconnectedness of the novel, and foreshadows the imminent arrival of Charlie.
Page 300: “First Nations’ Pizza.”
According to Flick’s reading notes, this references testimony in a land sovereignty case, where BC’s Crown Counsel argued First Nations lost their First Nations status if they use white fast food. I was unfortunately not able to find the Province editorial cartoon Flick mentions or an online version of the book she cites, but there are a few copies located at UBC’s library.
Page 301: “They look familiar,” said Eli. “Maybe they’re from Brocket.”
Brocket is a small town in southern Alberta situated on the Piikani Nation reserve. It is notorious for being the setting of Brocket 99, a fake radio station run by heavily stereotyped characterizations of native DJs. Eli’s reference suggests the Old Indians resemble these stereotypes as well. If you have time, I recommend reading through the linked article and especially the comments, where opinions on the piece differ from hate speech to a harmless joke to “one of these classic pieces of Canadiana.”
Less interestingly, the comment (which implies a proximity to Brocket) helps us map the fictional town of Blossom, AB:
Page 302: It was a jacket. A leather jacket. With leather fringe… “You know, you look a little like John Wayne.”
Lionel receives John Wayne’s jacket from the Old Indians for his birthday. Wayne played the archetypical cowboy hero in a number of Western films, including the novel’s fictional Western, The Mysterious Warrior. Lionel’s desire to leave the reserve and become a white man, as Norma puts it, is expressed by his childhood desire to “be John Wayne” – this present gives him that ability. Here’s a picture of the jacket John Wayne wears in The Alamo (1960) which matches the novel’s description:
Page 305: For a time, Amos had worked for the tribal police.
Tribal police forces still exist today, as a way to self-administer police forces to First Nation communities. Here’s a link to the website for the First Nations Chiefs of Police Association.
Page 307: Fred Peterson
Fred Peterson was mayor of Portland in the 50s who rushed a dam project at the Bull Run watershed. The reference is obscure so it could be a stretch – but maybe not, considering the novel’s relationship with dam projects, and King’s fondness for naming characters after politicians. Without the reference, I was still struck by the whiteness of his name. Two white first names? Clearly this guy is not to be trusted.
Page 308: “Didn’t I sell you a Camaro four, five years back?” “Must have been my twin.” … “Well, let’s say that maybe Milford or Melfred comes in here and he needs a little money. And maybe he’s had a little to drink…” “Milford doesn’t drink.” “So you say.”
More racism – first, Peterson can’t tell different Indians apart, then he leans on the drunk Indian stereotype in order to explain how Milford might have sold his truck and forgotten about it.
Page 308: “Ricky, my sales manager, bought the truck… Left about a week ago. Took a job in Florida.”
All roads lead back to Fort Marion, and it seems like the perfect destination for someone who made a career out of exploiting Indians. Unfortunately, there’s no reference to anyone named Ricky working at Hovaugh’s clinic.
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This section seemed lighter on references than other parts of the novel, but let me know if you find anything that I missed!
Hi Max. I think it isn’t so much the puddles that are significant as it is the water that fills this novel to its brim. Water is virtually omnipresent throughout, showing up in big ways (the dam) and small ways (the puddles), exploited (for electricity, among other things) yet overwhelming (drenching Alberta, transporting the cars, drowning Eli). It’s also the core of the Native creation story and a significant part of many non-Native Western stories, such as that of Moses and Robinson Crusoe. It also, despite giving the appearance of immobility (the lone puddles and the dam), actually and ultimately generates powerful movement and momentum (transporting the cars and breaking the dam). Water keeps flowing and running, reflecting the movement of life and the medicine wheel.
Hi Kevin, I understand the water symbolism more generally, but the puddles seem counter-intuitive when viewed through that lens. To me puddles are “stuck water” that would represent stasis, seemingly running counter to the standard water metaphor.
I think that the intention is for the puddles to appear as “stuck water.” However, despite appearing as that, it actually moves, transporting the cars when no one is looking. I read this as another example in this novel of how perceptions can be mistaken, especially when they are grounded in preconceived notions and given little attention.
Hi Max,
I loved all the allusions you picked up from your assigned sections of GGRW this week. I have to say, the fact that you were willing to touch on aspects you thought were worth noting, but weren’t exactly sure what they represented, was really refreshing. I think most of us felt afraid to admit, much less highlight, that theres meanings and ideas within the novel we don’t understand, but thats part of the experience of trying to peel back all the layers of King’s novel. For example, all the references to a puddle, the puddles the characters kept stepping in and the ones the cars kept disappearing into, I love that you brought that up for us to just think about. Unfortunately I dont have any more clues to what I think it represents but youve inspired me to do some more digging!
Hi Freda, I’m glad my post was able to get you thinking! I definitely think there’s way too much in this novel for one person to unpack, even when designated such a short section, and I definitely wrote this post hoping that people would feel free to add their own thoughts or analysis. Just reading the other blogs I’m stunned by how many interpretations people can have for each character.
Hi Max,
Great work on all your allusions! I myself had a section which dealt with Lionel’s clothing’s and the reference to Bursum. Unlike you, I wasn’t able to find such conclusive research about the sentiment garnered by Bill Bursum. It’s interesting to note the play on Buffalo Bill as well through the character of Bursum, and how although the performances of the ‘Wild West’ did create a semblance of dialogue between the West and the Natives, that ultimately it can be seen as an exploitation of the latter through the comical re-enaction of their culture.
Hi Debra, while I don’t think there were any references pertaining to Buffalo Bill in this passage, the double-reference of the character’s name is a hoot. He’s an interesting character for sure, and I think I’m only at the very surface of what his Map is intended to represent.
Hey Max,
I really enjoyed your blog. You picked up a lot of allusions I wouldn’t have noticed, like page 308 about all roads leading back to Fort Marion. It is very nice to have someone with an eye like that! I am glad that you referred to things even though you might not have known the true reason for it you opened it up to those who may know the answer.
-Kathryn
Thank you for your kind words! Yeah, I was hoping I could open up discussion for some of the references – there is so much to unpack in this novel that I’m not sure if it’s possible for one person to extract every reference, even in a small section such as this.