What are the major differences or similarities between the ethos of the creation story or stories you are familiar with and the story King tells in The Truth About Stories ?
The creation story that I am most familiar with through my research and first-hand encounters with my religious relatives would be the Biblical/Islam story of Genesis and the Garden of Eden. When it comes to the style and “credibility” of the story compared to King’s Earth Diver story, I find that the elements share more in their qualities than they differ.
In Earth Diver story, Charm is depicted as an overly curious woman. Being impressed by the smallest things, and often questioning her environment. Charm seems to be very similar to Eve in the Garden of Even. It was Eve’s curiosity that persuaded her to listen to the snake, against God’s will, and break the single rule that was meant to not be broken — Eve’s curiosity lead to the theft of the Golden Apple (as I recall from my memory). It was this mistake that was her shortfall — the beginning of a series of cascading events that served as a punishment to her curiosity.
Likewise, on a pursuit of something to satisfy her relentless craving, Charm set on an adventure to find a Red Fern Foot (akin to the Golden Apple found in the Garden of Eve).
By now she was very hungry, and she was very keen on some Red Fern Foot, so she really got into the digging. And before long she had dug a rather deep hole. (King 13)
Indeed, just as Eve was met with a punishment for breaking the one rule, Charm found herself digging so deep to the point where she fell into the other side of the world.
And sure enough, she fell through. Right through that hole and into the sky. (King 15)
Another notable similarity between the two stories of creation is the fact that in both, there are animals (the snake in Genesis, the Fish in Earth Diver) that persuade the protagonist to the ultimate mistake.
These specific excerpts from both stories of Creation are an example of what I wrote about in a previous lesson. While there exist differences in the exact details of these stories, they tell the same story. This is why orality, particularly in cultures in which orality is primary, is very much important and no less inferior to literature. Ultimately, no matter the difference in the minute details of a story of creation, they are very much talking about the same thing. A different but shared perspective if you will.
Works Cited
Digital image. N.p., n.d. Web. <https://www.newstatesman.com/culture/books/2017/09/rise-and-fall-adam-and-eve-exploring-myth-original-sinners>.
King, Thomas. The Truth About Stories: A Native Narrative, House of Anansi Press Inc., 2003, Toronto.
“Two Sides of The Same Coin by D Awanis.” Hello Poetry. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Apr. 2020.
Hi Navid! I really liked your take on analyzing the similarities instead of the differences between the Earth Diver story and the story of Genesis. I think this angle is one King would want the reader to take, but since we are so conditioned to view the differences between Western and Indigenous culture the lessons from the similarities could be easily glossed over. The “cautions” from Genesis are presented as strengths in the Earth Diver. For example, as you mention Eve’s curiosity is their downfall whereas Charm’s curiosity is what leads her to make the monumental discovery of earth. Its this understanding of the two stories that also aid the reader in understanding the positioning of women in each societal structure. In Christianity women are saddled with the biblical burden of the “original sin” as though every woman must repent for Eve stealing an apple, whereas women are held in the high regard as life creators in Indigenous culture. It is in this way Alberta is empowered to seek out motherhood without the necessity of a husband or partner. To further your point regarding the use of animals and the relationship with nature, while both stories take place in lush environments, the animals aid Charm, while the snake is sent to trick Eve. The relationship with the environment as well plays a vital role. Adam and Eve are guests in the Garden of Eden that God has benevolently provided for them, while Charm is the creator of her world with the help of the animals who become her natural collaborators. These multitudinous similarities and differences dance together to create an understanding of how women are regarded in these two different cultures, and how does King continue to guide us to question the western relationship to women and nature?