Survival On The Land-Exploring The Social Changes Implied In Louise Erdrich's Tracks

Written by the contemporary Native American writer Louise Erdrich, Tracks is a famous novel that depicts the surviving situations of the Chippewas in North Dakota in the early twentieth century. Through profound description of Indian politics, economy, spirituality, interpersonal relation and mental state at that time, Erdrich draws a picture of conflicts between the Indian culture and the white civilization. The author establishes several kinds of different survival through different characters confronted with a changing world. This thesis begins with a discussion of the Native American people's harmonious survival on the Indian land before the advent of the white, then moves to a contrast study of their struggling survival after Europeans' arrival in the indigenous land, which is illustrated by using the novel as a case, and ultimately makes an analysis of the several types of survival generalized from the novel.The introduction section briefly defines contents of this thesis and clarifies the purpose, significance, method, design and limitations of this study.In the first chapter, the analysis focuses on concrete discussions of the Indian people's harmonious survival on the Native land before the white's arrival. The detailed discussion will be on politics, food, religion, human relationship and mentality. This section lays foundation for contrast discussion in the second chapter.In the second chapter, conflicts between the two sides are discussed in contrast with the five aspects analyzed in chapter one, by using examples in the text. This part prepares well for the third chapter.Chapter three explores four types of survival for Native Americans in changing environments. This chapter enables an implication in the conclusion.The conclusion section concludes the central idea of this thesis: to make rational changes is the best way to deal with changes. In changing circumstances, only through having a clear view of the reality and making proper choices can Native Americans conserve their traditions and survive well. Thus a new harmony on the Native land can be established.