The aim of the paper is to conduct a discussion on the character dilemma in identifying their identity. The primary concern of the paper is with the Louise Bernice Halfe’s “Nohkum, Medicine Bear”. The opening stanza of the poem includes the describing the image of an old grandmother who has been described in the form of a bear. The image of the bear and the woman has compiled together. However, there has been a hesitance on the part of the poet to merge the image together. The formation of the character and the merging of the image of the human and an animal had been a source of deliberation for the author in itself.
There has been a depiction of the abode of the house of the old women in the form of the den of the bear. The intertwining nature of the attributes of the old women and the bear have been the initial point of the character dilemma where the hint is towards the fact if the human nature is closely linked to the animalistic attribute (Spitler).
The next set of process that follows the description where the old women can be seen to be using different methods and ingredients in order to make medicine. She has been draped in natural essence in the den where she resides. However, line number 28 onwards we can see that old women or the bear has been described as the healer of the spirits. The dilemma that persists in the section of the character is in the fact whether there is the possibility of person with the animalistic nature to extended their healing to the ones in distressed. There has been a reversal of the initial dilemma.
The initial dilemma with the consideration whether the human nature can have animalistic attribute, the next set of dilemma has reversed the doubt to consider whether a person with the attribute of an animal can extend the role of the healer. The usage of the word has been crucially done in the case. The word laboring has been attached with the bear to strike the idea whether animals also toil a lot.
From the line, 9-15 there has been a consideration of the usage of the lot of elements. However, it needs to considered that it requires a presence of mind. The complex nature of the human and the animal has been juxtapose in order to give rise to the complexities in the dealing with the attributes (Spitler).
However, on the other side of the usage of the character there has been depicted in order to give an idea about the obstacles and the flaws that lie in the process. The flaws have been rooted in the fact that the characters have been juxtaposed in the dealing of the medicine. The obstacle on the part of the old women have been with the fact that her age had been an obstacle in the way of executing the deed that the person was trying to indulge herself. Another primary obstacle that had been on the way of the execution of the character it has been noted that the dealing of the character has been effective.
The juxtaposition has been done between the traditionally antithetical elements. Between the human and the animal nature, however, it has been seen in the course of the discussion of the poem, that both the character has been used by the poet in order to exhibit that the flaws in the character can be mitigated by another (Neuhaus).
The poem is marked by a constant shift in the movement of the character and the position of the character within the house, which is also referred to as the den. Within the den like structure, though the usage of the different ingredients the character is indulged in a series of activities. The contrast and the opposition in the dealing of the elements have been portrayed in stark opposition in the course of the discussion to enhance the idea of the opposition that is inherent in the human character. Dilemma can be used to receive an insight in the live of the character from the struggle in the disposition. The dilemma acts as a point of tension for the narrative by rendering it in its complexities. The confusion is created by bringing about conflicting ideas.
The poem has exhibited similar attributes in its dealing of the characters. The conflicting and the complex attributes of the character has been discussed. The complexity has been created in the movement of the character as well as in the attributes as exhibited by them in the course of their dealing. The regular contrast between the attributes of the character and the attribute of the bear has been struck against the character of the women (Neuhaus).
The poem can be considered as a criticism of the animalistic attitude that is prevalent in the character of the human. The criticism is also of the superiority that is posed in the character of the human. As such, by bringing in the dilemma and the conflict in the portrayal of the character, the elements from both the character has been superimposed and juxtaposed in order to invoke the criticism. In their activities being imposed over one another, in order to evoke the flaw in one and in order to evoke the gap in another. As such, the apparent contrast has been criticized to be the elements that complement the flaw in another.
The poem can be concluded on the note that the dilemma in the character can be utilized in order to develop a greater insight in the general character of the human. It has also been used in order to criticize the supremacy that has been posed in the character of the humans and have been posed in opposition with the character of the animals.
Works Cited
Neuhaus, Mareike. “Reading the Prairies Relationally: Louise Bernice Halfe and” Spacious Creation”.” Canadian Literature 215 (2012): 86.
Nur, Fitri. “A Psychoanalysis of The Main Character Dilemma in Richard Prescott Officially Dead.” (2012).
Spitler, Theresa M. “The dilemma of superiority: The genius character in American fiction.” (1991): 4125-4125.
