Suvival And Resistance Of The Other In Louise Erdrich’s The Plauge Of Doves

Louise Erdrich,an important representative figure of the second wave of the“Native American Renaissance”,in her literary works mainly focuses on the cultural survival of American Indian tribes,the individual of contemporary Indian ethnicity and the complexity of cultural identity.The Plague of Doves(2008)is her thirteenth novel,which contains twenty related stories narrated by four narrators.It not only depicts the feud between three generations of American Indians and whites in a small town and a nearby reserve in North Dakota for nearly a hundred years,but also reflects the history of American colonial expansion and ethnic conflict and integration.This thesis mainly studies the survival dilemma faced by the three generations of Indians in the white-dominated American society and their efforts and thinking to get rid of this survival dilemma through The Plague of Doves,and further analyzes how the Indians in the postcolonial context find a new way out.This thesis covers three chapters.The first chapter citing the concepts of “self” and “the other” of the post-colonial theory,and analyzes the concrete manifestation of the oppression suffered by the Indians in American society from the plight of the other and the collective trauma they have experienced.On the one hand,it reflects the living status of the Indians marginalized in American society from the death of Holy Track and the experience of the third generation of Indian girl Evelina;On the other hand,it analyzes the persecution and influence of American white colonists on the Indians from the aspects of land and religion.Moreover,the second chapter discusses the effort made by the other to pursue justice and change the predicament.Especially,Bazil Conutts turns into a judge through his effort and Evelina returns to the Indian Reservation.The story shows resistance and struggle of the other by major characters.Chapter three analyses the ways of survival and development of Indians in contemporary America.They not only insist on inheriting the excellent traditional culture of the Indians,but also accept the advanced culture of the white Americans.They integrate the two cultures and look for ways for the Indians to survive and develop in contemporary American society.Consequencely,the writer of the thesis considers that in The Plague of Doves,Louise Erdrich utilizes her powerful narrative to speak for the Indians from the other’s viewpoint,composing the actual history of Indian oppression and resistance.In contemporary society,Indians should quicken their self-awareness and attempt for more voice for themselves,they should fight for them right to speak and Indians to and jointly improve cultural diversity and cultural globalization.