We ended class on Monday discussing the fact that Omishto hints at the divide between the ancient traditions of the Taiga people and the modern inventions of American society. At the end of the fourth chapter Omishto out rightly states this by saying: "Two worlds exist. Maybe it's always been this way, but I enter them both like I am two people. Above and below. Land and water. Now and then" (97). It appears that Omishto is refrencing the two worlds that her mother and Ama live in. But I didn't quite understand this last sentence.
Omishto says that she is split into two people and enters the different worlds in that respect; however, it seems to me that she is always the same. She never appears to change dramatically and always seems to hold a bias to Ama and her ways. Though, she sometimes feels that she will never quite understand that ways of the old and their traditions she always seems to return to Ama in the end.
I think the defining moment in this chapter is when Omishto decides to leave her family's home and return to Ama's to bury the horse. I feel that this signifies herself distancing herself from the modern was as a whole. She states earlier that she feels her family has separated themselves from her but at the same time she doesn't seem to be affected by the circumstances. In fact, she states that she feels as if she's "outgrown" her bed--a symbol of comfort and home.
Although it appears that Omishto has not made a choice on which world she will remain in--it seems as if she cares for Ama's far more than the modern world her mother offers.
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3 comments:
I agree with your prediction that Omishto will choose to remain in Ama's world. Ama's lifestyle is centered around the use of nature and it's solemn beauty. Similarly, Omishto has a distinct appreciation and love for nature, so it seems natural that she would prefer to be with Ama.
Yes, I think this example of the horse foreshadows Omishto's decision to stay in the natural world. At some point in her life she needs to choose- it is fate, as far as I am concerned- it is obvious that her mother choose, but because of the differences between them Omishto will choose the natural world.
I love the reference you made to the bed. I found it odd that she said she had "outgrown" the bed. Like you said the bed is the most comforting place in your home. By saying she outgrew it instead of saying she "had gotten to big for it", doesn't show a growth in her size but in our own personality.
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