Colonialism in Round House by Louise Erdrich

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Table of Contents

Introduction
Colonialism as a Violation of Boundaries
Character’s Relation to Racism
Conclusion
Works Cited

Introduction

Colonialism and the racism associated with it have long since been an inseparable part of American history. Many bloody conflicts have transpired throughout the years between the white colonizers and the native peoples, being responsible for generational trauma and loss. Books, such as the Round House, focus heavily on the subject, allowing readers to better understand the everyday lived experience of the indigenous population. Furthermore, such works act as a way to contextualize occurrences many would only see in history books, rooting them in understandable conflicts, exposing the seedy underbelly of many American institutions.

The present discussion will focus on analyzing how the Round House handles the subject of colonialism and racism by exploring the relationship between those concepts and the book’s characters. If one understands the act of rape presented in the book as an extension of colonialism, then each character has their own relationship with it. Geraldine, the mother of the protagonist, is affected most directly, suffering the physical and mental harm of an attack. The lack of power and a violation of her autonomy, combined with the authority her white rapists poses make it impossible for her to lead a normal life until the oppression remains unresolved. The two closest men in her life, the son Joe and husband Basil are similarly caught in a web of racial inequality, injustice, and violence. They, however, react proactively and violently, seeking to use any tools at their disposal in order to protect their loved ones. The barriers faced by the family and their associates in seeking out justice are a result of institutional racism and inequality in the United States.

Colonialism as a Violation of Boundaries

As mentioned previously, it is vital to understand the phenomenon of colonialism as a violation of a people’s boundaries. The white invaders have used power and violence as a tool to procure gains of various kinds, including an ability to exert influence over others. The act of taking another’s land, property, possessions, and autonomy is ultimately an act of disrespecting the authority of an individual, seeing their claim to what they have as inferior. In times of rampant colonialism, physical violence persisted as a large part of the process, acutely affecting the native populations (Mary Paniccia Carden). For many men and children, this meant violence or forced labor, while for women, it often included rape. As a result, rape remains as an act of exerting power, as a move of asserting domination and taking away agency. The ability of a white man, Linden Lark, in this case, to rape and kill women while ultimately remaining unpunished by law, is a demonstration of colonial reality. Despite existing state protections, the offender is able to easily escape persecution through a loophole, remaining as unpunished as the colonial conquerors of old.

Additionally, it is important to note that the legal grounds presenting difficulty for the characters were established by colonial forces. As it stands, the lack of official power that the protagonist’s father experiences is rooted in poorly established jurisdiction legislation. The ability of the native people to govern the land they live on, and their right to self-affirmation has long been challenged by the systems of the US government. Furthermore, specific issues arise out of trying to persecute a non-native person on reservation land. It is often impossible to truly hold non-native people accountable for a potential crime within the existing legal framework. As a result, Basil ultimately finds himself powerless in defending the safety of his wife and promoting justice (Erdrich 226). The sense of helplessness results in discontent, grief and a sense of helplessness – a combination of feelings that many native people have undoubtedly felt when experiencing injustice.

Character’s Relation to Racism

Direct and indirect racism play a central role in the book. Many of the relationships and events of the work are colored by racism, especially those concerning the rape case. However, it is also important to examine other instances of mistreatment that show up throughout the work. It is clear that the local community systematically experiences racism in different ways, coming both from white individuals nearby and overarching systems of power. When the main character and his father examine older case files, more information about the actions of the Lark family is found. The Larks are known for discriminating against native people in the past, encroaching on their land and overcharging native customers at their store. Similar acts are implied to have occurred in the reservation as well, providing a look into the patterns of systematic racism.

Linden Lark, the perpetrator and murderer the central characters attempt to punish, is openly racist toward the native people. He views native women as his own property and clearly does not regard them as worthy of respect. In his jealousy and rage, he murders one woman and horrifically traumatizes another, spouting insults all the while. Other characters also exhibit racist behaviors or views, although less directly. The governor, Curtis Yeltow, for example, uses his position of power to coerce a younger native woman into a relationship with him. Even when the woman in question, Mayla, becomes pregnant, the man is keen to avoid responsibility, instead of paying her for keeping silent. The book highlights Yeltow’s fake support for Native American causes while also mentioning his actual political actions as being explicitly detrimental to the native population.

Throughout the story, native women are affected most severely by racism, often ending up on the receiving end of violence, harassment, or other acts. Comparatively, men, like the main character and his father, remain less affected, although the overall impact of leaving in an environment hostile to their people is evident. The novel demonstrates that discrimination often affects the vulnerable parts of a population most severely, presenting issues for the entire community.

Conclusion

In conclusion, it can be said that the Round House explores many instances of systematized racism in American society. Its characters are dynamically engaged with the institutions that put them at a disadvantage compared to the white populace. Experiencing violence and mistreatment at the hands of a hostile environment, native families found respite in the sense of a joined community, rituals, and an ability to protect each other. Violence, rape, and harassment accompany the lives of characters, harming the more vulnerable individuals most acutely. The round house presents land as a central consideration in the ability of native people to live and exercise their rights. Land regulates legislation, unites the families that live on it, and represents their cultural values. The book portrays a relatively accurate picture of the native people’s real-life circumstances, highlighting their frequent inability to seek justice or live in security. In addition, it also makes the complex relationship between colonialism, jurisdiction, and people’s personal lives easier to understand, bringing the subject into the limelight for an everyday reader.

Works Cited

Erdrich, Louise. The Round House. Hachette UK, 2013.

Mary Paniccia Carden. “The Unkillable mother”: Sovereignty and survivance in Louise Erdrich’s The round House.” Studies in American Indian Literatures, vol. 30, no. 1, 2018, p. 94, doi:10.5250/studamerindilite.30.1.0094.

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Colonialism in Round House by Louise Erdrich

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