Monday, November 8, 2010

Extended families...

In Roger Jack's "An Indian Story," what many roles does his aunt play in his life? What sort of message does his text send about stereotyped American family structures and those who do and do not represent/embody them? What is the value, to him, of his aunt as guardian and culture-bearer?

21 comments:

  1. His aunt was first a wife to her husband. When he died, she took care of her father, Roger's grandfather. When he died too, she effectively adopted Roger as her own son and played the role of his mother. Roger Jack was pretty much saying that a family does not have to always consist of a mom, a dad, and 2.5 children. Families come in all shapes and sizes, and immediate or extended family members are still family. Roger Jack was so thankful to have his aunt as a guardian because she brought him up well. She "saved" him from going down the wrong paths during his childhood.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Stereotypes are only a guideline and not a very appropriate one at that. The stereotype that Jack breaks is where a child aught to be raised by the quitessential family of a mom and dad. However he found that he developed into a better person by being raised by his aunt instead. Jack found the way of life that suited his tastes the best, without feeling guilty for not following a stereotype. It is a great example for those who are sutck on ideas of stereotypes and nostalgia. Families are not always the perfect Norman Rockwell painting, with rosy cheeked moms, dads and children. But if you look at the ehibition of joy in those portriats, that is the reality of family.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Although technically his aunt, Greta also is basically his mother. She raises him, teaches him about the culture, and gives him attention that he would probably not have received if he had stayed with his father. However, we also see that Roger Jack's father does play an important role in his life, even if not as much as Aunt Greta does. The idea of this unconventional family may seem strange, but it still forms Roger Jack into a strong, well-rounded individual. He clearly illustrates that the American stereotype for family is not necessary. The most important thing is not the structure or the formula-- it is the love and personal nourishment that a family can provide (regardless of the size).

    ReplyDelete
  4. I think that the difference in the family structure of Roger Jack is not a problem, if anything it is good for him. He has a stable 2 parent/guardian relationship, and has people to guide and protect him. The stereotpical family structure of Americans is based in reality, but it really means nothing. Children with one parent, or a different guardian figure can end up just fine in their lives, just as much as a two parent, happy family child can end up messed up, either legally or personality wise. His aunt gives him a true mother-figure, one who cares greatly about him, which is really the only thing that matters in the end.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Aunt Greta was easily the most important figure in Jack's life. She was a mother figure to him, a teacher, a storyteller. She introduced him to his culture and showed him the importance of it. There isn't really message sent about stereotypical American families in this story, because there are no longer broad stereotypes for American home life. However, the story does seem to send a message about ideal native families. A ver close and strong bond between those of your blood. When Roger went to live with his Aunt, his father had no problem with it because Roger's aunt was family, and his father knew she would do her absolute best to give Roger a good upbringing. If nothing else, Roger Jack's father would have know the importance aspects of native life that would have been instilled in his son by him living with his aunt.

    ReplyDelete
  6. To him she serves as a mother, father and grandparent. She raises him (typical maternal duty), provides for him (typical paternal duty) and passes on the families history (typical duty of a grandparent). Because of age and wisdom, it is the grandparent who passes on the family history. It is this family history that allows the child to be more connected with his extended family and with his aunt, who is merely serving as his parent. It also allows the child to be more connected with the rest of his family. But, in non-native families the history is not kept deep and this extended relation isn't developed. The extended family is not as close as in this case.

    ReplyDelete
  7. There has been and will always be a difference between a mother and an aunt. However, that does not mean that one cannot perform duties that belong to the other. Roger Jack points this out by illustrating that any family figure, a parent or a guardian, can be responsible over another. Sure, his aunt is not his mother, but she is a maternal figure. Something that Roger needs and accepts. They are content with who they are, and they are a family together. This is a family, however different it may be from what is deemed 'conventional'

    ReplyDelete
  8. Jack's story tells about how after losing his mother, Jack left his father and came to live with his aunt. even though he was not raised by his birth parents, Jack found that his aunt came to be his mother and he and his aunt were more alike than he had thought. stereotypical families are not necessary to having a good life. Jack and his aunt became their own family, a son without his parents and a mother without children.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Aunt Greta filled a variety of roles in her nephew's life. Not only did she serve as a mother, providing the basic nurturing and care that he needs, but she also served to provide him with the sterner guidance that one would typically expect from a father figure. She also fulfilled the role that one would expect from an aunt. That is, a cultural bastion, introducing him to his tribe's cultural practices and stories. The fact that Roger led a happier life in his extremely non-traditional family (with his aunt) than with his somewhat more traditional American style family indicates that it isn't the structure of the family that is important. Rather, it is the establishment of extremely solid relationships between the members of the family. These relationships may or may not be present in non-traditional families, just as they may or may not be present in traditional families.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Aunt Greta may have been Jack's aunt, but she was more of a mother to him. I think although there is significance in biological ties the emotional relationships between a guardian and a child are much more important. She raises him as her own and teaches him about everything he needs to know about life and culture. This unusual family structure proves that a typical american family structure doesn't matter and that in the end its the relationships, not the structure.

    ReplyDelete
  11. I feel that any opposition to an extended family setting would come from the promotion and romanticizing of the nuclear family. I did not come from a nuclear family, nor did anyone I know, and it seems to me that we've all turned out okay. I have probably spent as much time at home as I have staying at some relative's house and I don't think I suffered for it. I wouldn't say my situation was the same as the one presented in Roger Jack's story, but I would say that it was a completely valid family style as well.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Roger Jack sends a message of disagreement with the stereotypical american family because of the different structure that he lived in. His aunt was a main individual in his family as she raises him like a son. this provides the same effect that a "nuclear family" would have, proving that the stereotypical family structure is not always the best or only way to successfully raise children or to live in a happy, stable environment.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Jacks Aunt showed him how to be his own person. She was there when he needed her most, helping him throughout his life. This essay shows that one does not need to be a part of a stereotypical family to be successful, that success is in the eye of the beholder and whoever you are and whatever you do, you can succeed. Because his aunt raised him she played a large role of teaching him about humanity and how to be successful. He valued her opinions and her teachings as they guided him in college when he received word that she was dead.

    ReplyDelete
  14. His Aunt effectively playing every major female role in the family shows that the "stereotype" of a female family member is false. If a single person can go through and play the part of every character, then there shouldn't be a specific "role" for each of the characters she plays.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Aunt Greta was pretty much a mother to Jack. As well as a caretaker to Jack's father and uncle. Jack is trying to convey the message that families come in all shapes and sizes. And that different people can fill the role of a mother/father including aunts and uncles.

    ReplyDelete
  16. His aunt became his guardian, not because his father didn't want him to, but because he felt a need to live with her. I am in the same boat at the present time. I will be moving in with my aunt after December, not because I have problems with my parents but because the environment at my aunts house is something I long for and need at the moment. I think a lot of people think that a child must be raised by their parents, but I also think that children must be taught by others as well. Without a diversity of ideas, children become one sided and biased (which is not always a bad thing). His aunt didn't become his mother but she became a motherly figure.

    ReplyDelete
  17. She was first a wife, then essentially a grandmother (taking care of the grandpa), then finally a mother. What he is trying to explain is that the American family does not need to consist of merely a mom, dad, and a few children. It can be any amount of people and genders, as long as the idea of family is still there. He truly values his aunt as a caretaker and his guardian who kept him from the wrong path.

    ReplyDelete
  18. All I can really present now is a mesh of the already stated. Aunt Greta was a powerful significant figure in Jack's life that helped him tremendously throughout his time living with her. This shows, as anyone could have guessed, that the stereotypical nuclear family does not have to be implemented into one's life in order to maintain a decent, balanced, loving family that can offer what the children need just as well as the nuclear family can.

    ReplyDelete
  19. As everyone else has stated, Aunt Greta acted as Jack's mother ,aunt, guardian, and also taught Jack about his culture. The story also demonstrates the the whole idea of the "nuclear family" is not needed for a family to function normally. Jack also seemed to appreciate the fact that Aunt Greta continues to teach him about his culture. He also values that his aunt has also acted to guide him down the path.

    ReplyDelete
  20. I think the most interesting thing about the story was when Jack decided to leave his father's home, and it was okay to do that--and okay to come back as well. I would imagine in American culture, leaving the home to stay with another caretaker is sort of insulting, and may lead to permanent banishment. However, Jack's father seemed okay with the situation.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Jack's aunt started out as a friend and then adopted the role of his mother/caretaker. The story shows that Jack's aunt and Jack made a successful family unit, so the story rejects the American stereotype about family structures and says that other family structures can be equally viable. Jack appears to highly value his aunt as a guardian and culture-bearer.

    ReplyDelete