Monday, November 6, 2017
Socratic Seminar Online #2: Black Elk Question #2
Black Elk's Great Vision talks about his dream about the future of the tribe. However, Black Elk had this dream when he was 9 years old and he's telling this story 80 years later. His tribe, the Sioux, were once prosperous, with the coming of the whites, have lost their sense of community. All of that happened before he retold his vision. It is very unlikely that he is able to recall his entire vision, and have it be as accurate to the events that occurred. That is, if that was his actual vision. There are non-native, religious themes incorporated into his story. "The men from the clouds" represent angels, Black Elk himself represents Jesus. Those elements were added by John G. Neihardt because this is his interpretation of Black Elk's story. Not only did he retell this dream 80 years after he had it, but it was translated by his grandson and told to John G. Neihardt, a white man, there is no doubt in my mind that this story has been edited after the fact.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
I agree with you when you say the story could've been changed due to how long ago it happened to when he told it but, I feel as though the "men in the clouds" could possibly be just telling us "outsiders" that the Sioux are strong believers of spirits and their ancestors and not a non-native religious theme.
ReplyDeleteLike Cassie, I agree with your statement on how he story could have been altered. However, like Cassie, I also believe that the "men in the clouds" were not a religious idea. It could have meant some people of power or high status. But, that's your opinion.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree. It couldn't have been possible for things to have not been changed if the language can't be directly translated to english, the grandfather is telling this 80 years later, and it's being edited by a white man who could've possibly added things which made the text so verbose. There may have been some things that were exaggerated. And I agree that some of the religious or spiritual aspects may or may not have been edited by the white man's religious figuresm specifically jesus like you said. It's a possibility
ReplyDeleteI agree with the idea that the story could be lost in translation. In that it was transcribed by a white man who knows only of the ideals he grew up with, and added things in that made sense to him. Like Tristin, I also feel that the "men in the clouds" could have represented a higher power instead.
ReplyDelete