![]() ![]() It is important to note that the entire novel is narrated in flashback. Instead, Erdrich demonstrates that indigenous communities view time cyclically and see the "past" as an active factor in the "present." Throughout the novel, there is a clear rejection of a perpetual, linear structure of time. The Past (Motif)Įrdrich explores the concept of time, particularly through the lens of Native American communities. ![]() ![]() The similarities between Nanapush and Joe reflect the long and continued history of violence against indigenous women. As the plot proceeds, Joe's sleuthing leads him to discover that Geraldine was attacked by Linden Lark at the round house. The origin story of the round house is a direct parallel to the recent events that Joe has experienced. The reader learns from Mooshum that the round house was built by Nanapush, a mythological figure who remained loyal to his mother after she was attacked by her own husband. The round house is a meeting place where the tribe convenes for religious ceremonies and celebrations. The novel's title references a physical space that holds deep symbolism for the Chippewa community. Joe's visions of apparitions are thus a manifestation of his feeling that he has lost a grip on his reality. In The Round House, Joe sees ghosts when he is in a vulnerable state and he is unable to make sense of the events that transpire. Trauma, even when one works through the process of healing or resolution, can recur at any given moment. Throughout the novel, Erdrich uses the motif of ghosts to demonstrate the lingering nature of trauma. ![]()
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