Write 3 Helpful responses in first person. How you agree with the student and your opinion (65 words min each)
1) I wrote my first literature journal on Albertine, thinking she was the central focus, the main character the whole book would wrap around. That is until I got lost in the web of every member of her family and their intense stories that intertwine. When we first saw Albertine, it was in the wake of her Aunt’s death in 1981, but when Albertine shows up back in the book, it is 1973. She is fifteen and running away from home, she arrives in Fargo with no more money to move forward so she sits at the train station waiting for a sign. This sign would be Henry Lamartine, “because she didn’t have anything particular in mind, the man seemed just what she needed when he appeared.” (Erdich 165). The nature of their relationship for just a moment is nice and kind-hearted. Henry seems lost and distant during their encounter, he seems to be a veteran of some sort, dressed up in uniform sulking around Fargo. When they strike up a conversation he appears to take her under his wing and show her around till he becomes belligerent drunk and returns back to his hotel room with Albertine only to take advantage of her. Since the wording was careful and not too descriptive, I found it difficult to truly understand the nature of the exchange. Was it as hostile and aggressive as I perceived it to be, or was it just rough and wanted by Albertine? Besides this moment, they wake up and go their separate ways, but she mentions earlier on that she knows his younger brother Lyman. But she never says how she knows him or what she knows about him. And later in the novel, a year after Albertine and Henry met, Lyman makes a remark to Henry about going to meet up with some Kashpaw girls, “He says nothing. But I can tell his mood is turning up.” (Erdich 188). Henry lifts in spirit but says nothing to Lyman about knowing Albertine.
Then according to the text, seven years down the road, Albertine meets up with another brother, Gerry Nanapush. She seems to spend a good amount of time with him and his wife Dot, she even works every day with Dot in close quarters but never mentions she knows Gerry’s brothers. By this time, Henry had seemingly died in a river when out driving with Lyman. But Albertine doesn’t mention this. I would love to know if this whole group ties back around. My question is whether you think Albertine knows Henry died? Did they see each other after that one night, were they in contact the year after? Had she talked to Lyman? What are your thoughts on this whole brotherly connection with Albertine?
Works Cited
Erdrich, Louise. Love medicine. Harper Perennial, 2009.
2) -Pick a pair of characters and explain the nature and reason for their relationship.
Chapter 10 “The Red Convertible” focuses mainly on the siblings Lyman Lamantine and Henry Junior. This chapter is narrated by Lyman in the first person and it begins as a truly positive, happy and adventurous story then later on shifts into the complete opposite, ending as a depressing story. The reader learns about Lyman’s and Henry’s relationship and how they owned a red convertible car when they were younger, a series of events happen and Henry joins the army and goes to war. As Lyman describes, when Henry returned home he was a completely different/ changed individual. Lyman states “Henry was very different.. you couldn’t get him to laugh… Henry was jumpy and mean.” (Erdrich pp. 182) After Henry’s return home, the story and narration changes to a difficult and sad situation. Despite Henry’s change, Lyman is portrayed as a supportive brother, for example, when Lyman decides to break part of their convertible in order to keep Henry away from the hospital. It’s clear that he wants to help him be stable/improve his situation and help him deal with his pain and post-traumatic disorder. Towards the end of the chapter, the brothers seem to be in peace and after they drive together they are portrayed in the r, when Henry decides to jump into the river and is swept away by the current. Lyman decides to let the car sink into the river as well. Through this chapter the reader learns the supportive and great relationship the brothers shared and how their time together shifted from great times into complicated and a depressing ending.
-What is Erdrich’s purpose for including so much nature in her narrations and the meaning of ‘water’?
3) The person I found very interesting in the book was Nector. He was in love with Lulu, but married Marie Lazarri. All his life he was in love with Lulu and never told her how he felt. As they grew older his love for her grew even bigger. There was a moment when he decides to see Lulu without Marie knowing. He asks her for a ride to help him distribute butter, and she takes him to a hill where later they end up having sex. At that moment Nector and Lulu start to have an affair. Although he was enjoying being with her, he felt bad about Marie. He decided to write a letter to Marie saying that he would leave her because he was determined to go with Lulu. Nector is very confused about his feelings because he feels bad about leaving Marie, the woman who has been with him for so long. At the same time he has strong feelings for Lulu and wants her so bad. When he found out that she is thinking of marrying another man, he is extremely jealous and for that he wants to be with her. Before this happens, he knows that he needs to be a free man. I find that this romance it’s complicated for he has a tough decision to make. I don’t know what I would do if I was in his situation. I know a friend who has the similar situation, and she doesn’t know what to do. She is married and she started dating an old friend. I’m just wondering how this situation would end just like Nector’s. It is so complicated.
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