Student Question
What is the theme of The Indian in the Cupboard?
Quick answer:
The themes of prejudice and responsibility in power are central. Prejudice is evident when Little Bear and Boone, initially mistrustful of each other, overcome their biases after a violent confrontation. The responsibility theme emerges as Omri realizes his power over Little Bear, initially seen as god-like, should be exercised with respect, recognizing Little Bear as a living being rather than a toy. These themes underscore the importance of understanding and ethical responsibility in relationships.
Themes that permeate the narrative in The Indian in the Cupboard
are prejudice and the responsibility that comes with power over people.
The theme of prejudice comes into play when Little Bear is first introduced to
Boone and the two are immediately mistrustful of one another. Boone thinks of
Little Bear as a bloodthirsty savage, and Little Bear thinks of Boone as
ignorant and presumptuous. When the two are introduced to western television,
this mistrust erupts into almost mortal violence. In the aftermath, however,
the two are able to reconcile their differences and become closer than
brothers.
The theme of the responsibility of power also plays a role. When Little Bear is
first brought to life by Omri, he thinks that the latter is a god. While this
turns out to not be true, the amount of power that Omri has over Little Bear is
all but omnipotent. He's not a god, but he may as well be. After many missteps,
Omri realizes that Little Bear is a living being worth of respect and not a toy
to be played with, despite the fact that Omri has the power to do so.
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