Student Question
What are Deydey's thoughts or feelings in The Birchbark House as shared by the narrator?
Quick answer:
In The Birchbark House, Deydey's ghost story reveals much about his thoughts and feelings. It shows him to be a practical, decisive man who is resourceful and clever. He still believes in the old traditions and stories of his people but only in part, and he is more likely to explain occurrences by reason than superstition. Deydey is also able to master his fears and act with wisdom in difficult situations.
One of the best ways to discover a character's thoughts and feelings is to listen to the stories that character tells. In chapter 4 of Louise Erdrich's The Birchbark House, Deydey, the father, tells his family a ghost story that actually reveals much about his own ideas and values.
Deydey begins the story by discussing a predicament that he ends up in while coming out of the rapids in the face of a storm. He is hesitant to stop at a particular point of land, for it is rumored to be haunted. Even its name reflects the old tale, for it is called Where the Sisters Eat. Deydey also wishes to catch up with a trader to do some business. Here, he shows himself to be both cautious and focused. He knows the old tales and respects them, but he is also focused on the task at hand....
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Both of these motivations play into his desire not to stop in that place.
But then the storm breaks upon him. The men with him want to continue on, but Deydey is cautious again. He does not like the storm, and he has authority over his men to make them stay. Notice how he says that he "decided that [his] fears were foolish." He is trying to convince himself that there is nothing in the old tales. They are just stories. He and his men will be safe. Deydey is like most people, trying to comfort himself and rationalize his way out of a difficult dilemma.
Deydey is also a resourceful man who knows how to take care of himself in difficult situations. He does, however, neglect to perform a custom that might help him. He does not take out his tobacco and offer it to "the good spirits," asking for their help. This shows that Deydey is focused on the circumstances at hand and only half believes in his people's traditions, but he regrets neglecting his "mother's ways" and eventually realizes the wisdom of them.
When the storm has passed, Deydey wakes up to women's voices. He is still mostly asleep and doesn't think at first that no women could possibly be in this isolated spot. He is just irritated by all their noise and yells at them to be quiet because he is trying to sleep. He feels no fear at this point. In fact, he thinks the voices are sweet, even though the women seem to be arguing. For a while, they quiet down, but then they begin arguing more loudly. By now, Deydey is just plain angry, especially since the women are sitting on his canoe. He hollers at the women to be careful.
Then, Deydey realizes something. The women are talking about eating Deydey and his companions! Deydey turns cold all over. He has a healthy sense of fear at this point, but his fear does not paralyze him. In fact, it makes him remember the old stories and appreciate them all the more now that he is in the very middle of one.
Deydey must now rely on his cleverness, and he is clever indeed. He huffs like a bear and growls that the man he just ate was delicious. The arguing spirits (for that's what they are) are furious at the bear for stealing their dinner and dash off in a hurry, still arguing voraciously. Deydey knows not to stick around any longer, and he and his men push off in their canoes at top speed.