Margaret Laurence’s story, “The Loons”, explores the themes of cultural identity and freedom. The plot-line itself is pretty straight forward; written in a what-you-see is what-you-get kind of way. For a native person, like the main character Piquette Tonnerres, to be alone in her world with no elders of her own kind is not easy and definitely explains her chosen isolation from other girls of her age. This may also explain her distrust of white authority figures, like Dr. and Mrs. MacLeod, although Dr. MacLeod was the “only person in Manawaka that ever done anything good” to Piquette.
I believe that Laurence uses the loon birds to symbolize untouched natural wilderness and the possibility of freedom. In paragraph 35, Vanessa MacLeod insists that they ought to enjoy the loon calls while they can, because the more that civilization encroaches on their habitat, the more chance that the loons will flee forever. That almost seems to be the case with Piquette; it’s as if the closer anyone attempts to get to her, the higher the chance she will retract into herself and reject others even more so.
The way the loon’s calls are described in paragraph 40 is very accurate and creates an image of a mystery bird, for those who may have never seen or heard a loon. I have spent many summers in the North woods of Wisconsin, on the edge of the Menominee Indian Reservation, based on a friend’s property known as ‘Tahltan’. This fairly untouched land has many lakes, on which many families of loons reside and breed. The late-night calls the birds vocalize are really quite mesmerizing and absolutely unmistakable. “Plaintive, and yet with a quality of chilling mockery, those voices belonging to a world separated by aeons from our near world of summer cottages and the lighted lamps of home.”
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I agree with your reference to Piquette not having any elders. In the beginning of the story there is reference to her father but never doing anything for himself if his daughter was there. But I think the use of her nationality has a bigger meaning. I think the author's use of a native indian shows us how people "should" be. What one would typical imply while referencing that nationality. In tis story however there is a stark contrast in the way in which we would expect Piquette to behave and how she actually does. What I mean is the lack of interest and concern Piquette shows regarding nature, the loons, etc. If this were a story about any other "half-breed" Irish- German, etc; the meaning would not be there. Each person has a choice to make, whether it be a good one or a bad one; happy or sad, and we each must live by those decisions.
ReplyDeleteI agree and never noticed that Laurence was using The Loons as symbolism of freedom and untouched wilderness. The Loons were considered endangered such as freedom and stereotypes. Piquette’s relationship with others such as the doctor was slowly being retracted the more that he tried to help her. The more that people judged her and put her down her feelings became distant. I agree with Gordon and also want to state that Piquette is young in this book and doesn’t know how to fit it or where her place is in society so it makes it hard for her to chose the path she feels is right.
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