A Yellow Raft in Blue Water Essay

Answer: Discuss the three female protagonists and the men in their lives. How are their lives determined by the circumstances of their birth and subsequently by the men they â€Å"chose.† Michael Dorris divides the novel A Yellow Raft in Blue Water into three sections narrated by three different Native American women: Rayona, Christine, and Ida. First introduced is teen-aged Rayona, whose mother Christine is dying of too much drinking and high living. Rayona was abandoned by her mother and had to fend for herself around the environment of Seattle and the Montana reservation of her birth. She is searching for a stability of affection she never quite finds. Rayona often looks down on herself based on the way people look at her. They either say she is â€Å"too big, too smart, not Black, not Indian, not friendly.† Rayona longs to be normal and fit in. With her mother Christine, it’s been another story: affection came to her almost too much and nearly buried beneath it, she self-destructs in her illness finally returning to the reservation. She is very protective of her brother Lee and always concerned for his welfare. Christine does not have the skills to translate her feelings into actions and this is her main problem in relationships with others, especially with her daughter. This weakness naturally causes problems between Christine and Rayona, as Rayona begins to judge others based solely on their actions. Aunt Ida is often bitter and attempts to distance herself from others, as she fears becoming too attached to or dependent upon anyone. She tells the last part of the book and is the best at telling it. A story of how a young Indian girl Ida assumed the child born of an aunt, who’d come to nurse her sister through illness and stayed to bear her brother-in-law’s child: Christine. It’s only here that Dorris’ narrative decision to telescope the story, unfold family secrets. Since Aunt Ida was so secretive of their family genes, Christine is left fatherless and has no ancestors who she knows about. Consequently she has trouble understanding her identity and it causes her a great deal of pain and disappointment. Though the one constant man in her life was her brother Lee. Christine and Lee have a very close sister-brother bond, each relying on each other for emotional support. After her brother’s death, she gets married to an African American solider named Elgin. Throughout her part of the book, she faces difficulties with Elgin that reflects a lot on Rayona. During Rayona’s whole life, her father Elgin is barely there, pooping in and out whenever convenient for him. Rayona Feels like she is not good enough and has trouble trying to find her place and identity in the world. These characters experience loneliness, they yearn to be loved and accepted. This results in the evident theme of belonging and abandonment. The chance to interview Michael Dorris. . What is your favorite and least favorite books of all the books you have written? Where do you get your ideas for your books? What is your favorite type of book to read that you enjoy and do any of them help you to make your decisions to write your books?   From research you have mentioned growing up in a household filled with women. Did you get any actual editorial help from women in your household? For example, did you show it to your wife and asked if you got something right?