Names are one of many mechanisms through which King uses to present allusions and metaphors in Green Grass Running Water. They often sum up a personality trait present in the character they describe, or can be ironic in nature when alluding to historical figures or themes.

Eli Stands Alone

Eli Stands Alone is the black sheep of his family and the community of Blossom, Alberta, and the last name ‘Stands Alone’ alludes to his general aloofness from traditional First Nations culture. Having obtained a PhD from the University of Toronto, and later teaching there, Eli was eager to leave the confines of Blossom and his First Nations past behind him and assimilate into Canadian society. This is alluded to a variety of times throughout the book. One such occurrence is Eli’s initial reluctance to bring Karen to the Sun Dance, his discomfort while there, and his refusal to return with her the following year.

While Eli was eager to leave Blossom behind, he finds himself unable to escape it as his unique background leads to him being equally different in mainstream Canadian society. When Eli returns to Blossom to protect his mother’s cabin from the dam, Eli once again finds himself standing alone, but on a far larger scale, opposite the corporate forces of White Man society. No matter where Eli finds himself, he can never fit in, he will always Stand Alone.

“Buffalo” Bill Bursum

“Buffalo” Bill Bursum is the owner of the home entertainment center where Lionel works. This allusion is more subtle, in that deeper research and historical knowledge of First Nations affairs is required to recognize it. The allusion comes in two parts. The first of which, Bill Bursum, is the reversal of Bursum Bill, a famous 1921 bill that deprived Pueblos Indians of their land and water in the New Mexico region, giving the rights to non-Indians. Fortunately for the Pueblos, the bill received national exposure and was eventually defeated. The second allusion emphasizes the “Buffalo Bill”, alluding to William Frederick Cody, a nineteenth and twentieth century showman known for his Wild West shows that involved the exploitation of First Nations people.

Buffalo Bill, sporting the rarely seen Hoke-Troika (lip sweater/soup-saver combo)

Babo Jones

Babo Jones is the eccentric, African-American cleaner at Fort Marion where the four Indians escaped from, who travels alongside Dr. Joe Hovaugh (Herein lies another allusion, ‘Jehovah’) in his quest to find them. In GGRW, King uses Babo as an element of foreshadowing, alluding to the Herman Melville’s story “Benito Cereno”. In the story, a black slave named Babo leads a slave rebellion over their Master Benito Cereno, by deceiving the captain of the ship, Captain Delano, into thinking its business as usual aboard. In GGRW, we are introduced to Babo as she is being interrogated by two white police officers, a Sergeant Cereno and Jimmy Delano, who are investigating the disappearance of the four Indians. Babo’s race is revealed when Sergeant Cereno, growing frustrated with Babo’s inability to answer his questions, suggests his partner Delano “…finish up with Aunt Jemima” (p. 45). As is revealed in the end, it was in fact Babo who assisted with the escape of the four old Indians.

King, Thomas (June 1, 1994). Green Grass, Running Water. New York: Bantam Books.