What role does "family" play in the life of Saul Indian Horse? What constitutes "family" in this novel? Discuss examples of "family" strength, weakness, and powerlessness in the story.
What defines family to you and what strength do you gain from them?
The role family plays in the life of Saul Indianhorse is a fall back in my opinion. Saul never really got to see his family at all after he was taken to St. Jerome's, so he was never able to fall back to them. After a while of being at St. Jerome’s Saul was assimilated into the Kelly family, and after that happened, he finally had a family he could fall back to. He was treated like family by the Kelly’s and they had given him more love and respect than his biological parents from what I've read.
ReplyDeleteFamily strength in this story is shown whenever he is assimilated into the Kelly’s family and he is treated just the same as everyone else in the home. Family strength is also shown whenever Saul goes to Gods Lake and he sees visions of his family coming down the river to greet him. Family weakness is shown whenever Saul is taken from his biological family and taken to St. Jerome’s, and he hadn't seen his family in a long time so their bond could have been potentially broken or damaged. Family powerlessness is shown whenever Saul was taken from his family and they couldn’t do anything to stop it from happening.
Like Desmond mentioned in his comment, Saul never really had family after he was taken by the white people to St. Jerome’s Residential School. Because of this, he never really had anyone he could depend on or open up to when he had a problem. When he was taken, he lost everyone in his family and his trust in people. Basically, his people skills were all diminished because of the white people who took him.
ReplyDeleteSometime after he left the school to play hockey, the people who were in the stands weren’t very welcoming to Saul. So, because of this, he didn’t feel like anyone in the audience were trustworthy either, even his first team wasn’t nice to him. However, when he joined the Moose, he definitely had a very strong relationship with them. So technically, they are his family. He was able to count on them for support and for friendship. Even though they aren’t his biological family, Saul felt close enough to them to call them family.
The Moose would overcome different challenges together, suffer losses together and vulnerability together. They banded together when there was racism targeted at them, like when they were targeted at the café by the white people. They suffered their time missing Saul together. They helped Saul overcome his fears together. So really, all along Saul is part of a very big family who loves and supports him to the end.
Saul Indian Horse had never had a real family caring about him, since his real parents lost their mind due to drinking, and his grandmother died on their trip during the winter. He was later incorporated to the Kelly family, where he found a new and accepting home. This was something new for Saul, and he didn’t want to let go of it. His place in the family was more important to him than rising to the NHL, which can be seen in the chapter he had to decide to either stay in the town with the Moose or going on to Toronto. Saul experienced strength from his family by having friends, and Virgil as an ally, supporting him in any situations. Before, when Saul lost his natural family, he felt weakness, because he didn’t have anyone to live or fight for, but also powerlessness during his time in the residential school, with having no backup or anyone caring for him, so he in a sense he gave up, until he discovered hockey, which gave him a new life.
ReplyDeleteFamily means belonging to a certain group of people, being accepted by them, and supporting each other. The strengths that you gain from them is having a home, a place you belong to, being there for one another even in the deepest crisis, and having a meaningful life, living and fighting for someone. I agree with Maya, how even though the Moose weren’t his biological family, he could still consider them as family, because it is where he is accepted and where he belongs. The relationship is what makes it a family, not the biological side.
I have to disagree with Maya only because he was, I would like to think that hockey and the Kelly's were the only one to give him comforted and if he had to talk to them about something, they would listen to him, although he did not tell them about the school and the abuse. Also, the time and effort he put in hockey is like the time and effort people put in family lo people put in family lots of sacrifices, but that being said, I do believe that the moose gave love and happiness just not the same as the Kelly's gave him.
ReplyDeleteFamily for Saul is very complicated he went from having all his family members to losing his brother then finding them and then seeing him die from tb. He then saw his whole family leave him because of the brainwashing that the schools gave them, then after his grandmother died and he went on to the schools he was all alone but the only person to give him hope and love ended up rape and invading his privacy, after all that he lived with the Kelly's who gave him all the love he could ask for and they knew that he got abused in the schools but respect him when he would not talk about the abuse from the school, he was happy but then went on to go to a team in Toronto where racism is more common and more heavy, he would then go on to a family that was not real, booz, alcohol he would find a deep part of himself and would never be the same until he went to the new dawn center, his fake family, the help him the most they could but In the end he visited his family, his first family, after he got closer he went back to Manitouwadge to start his on family in the hockey team he would later coach, one thing that would never change is that hockey was always there for him.
Hockey since he went to the schools were an escape from the abuse and hell of St. Jerome, he would be abused to play the game he would sacrifice something for hockey and when you're in a family you must make sacrifices, so you can see just how much he loved hockey. He would go on to play in a better league but he got kicked out but he stayed with his one family that was always with him, the stick and puck, hockey, he played after with the mouse and even after the white people at the café pissed on them, the place where they went after they won the tournament, he stuck with hockey. He may have thought that all he needed was hockey but really, he needed a real family.
jeremy brizard
I think family plays an important role in the life of Saul Indian Horse. Family made Saul who he was. Saul never really had anyone to rely on except a couple of people and even then, they had betrayed him in some way. While Saul was in the residential school father Lebetouille was like a father figure to Saul by teaching him to play hockey and letting him watch hockey on his tv. Father Lebetouille betrayed Saul by sexually abusing him which had scared Saul his whole life. Another example would be the Kelley’s they always knew what had happened to Saul in the residential school because they were in one as well but they weren’t able to talk about it with Saul because they figured he had to figure it out for himself.
ReplyDeleteWhat defines family to me is the bond you share with the people in that family. That bond is what makes a family and every member of that family will have each other’s backs no matter what. To me that’s what makes a strong family especially when u have that bond because everyone understands everyone and u can work together like a well-oiled machine. The strength I gain from my family would be knowing that no matter what happens I have place to fall back on and people who will always have my back and it gives me options to what I want to do with my life and it makes it easier because I know they would suprort me no matter what .
What role does family play in the life of Saul you ask? Well family plays an important role in Saul’s life because at first, he loves his brother, father, mother, grandmother. But his biological family got taken away when Saul was brought to St-Jerome. After staying there for a while he was brought to the Kelly’s, the Kelly’s was his new family that he could rely on and could show him what love is like and could have time for Saul.
ReplyDeleteExamples of family strength is when the grandmother went through hell to get Saul to where he was supposed to be even if it consisted of her dying in the end. Family powerlessness would be when Saul got taken away from his family and he couldn’t do anything about it even if he tried to fight or scream nothing would’ve worked. Family weaknesses would be like Desmond said when he got taken away from his Family his bond and trust with his family got taken away with distance. Those are examples of powerlessness, weakness and strength.
The Moose is another place where Saul could feel like he was apart of a family. Not his actual family but his game family, at first he didn’t feel welcomed but after a while he was apart of the game but most importantly apart of his new family that he could rely on. Every single one of them he could trust although Virgil was one that he really counted on and had the most fun with he had a connection like he was his brother.
To add to the theme family I find that this book shows a good family portrait and how it really worked back in the day. I personally don’t like reading but this book was worth it.
Gaby
For Saul his family is everything, he grew up with his siblings, his parents, his aunt and uncle and his grandmother, the wise one of the groups. Family was the only thing he knew he did everything with them, he picked the rice, built fires and sang songs with them, listened to all the stories that grandma would tell him. When Rachel and eventually Benjamin were taken to the school part of his family was missing, and that hurt him.
ReplyDeleteAs Maya said the moose were his big family of brother, they were a big group of young boys that would face their challenges head on, with his family of brothers he felt powerful and he felt like he belonged somewhere, he felt accepted by the moose and he was able to trust them enough to call them family along with Fred and Virgil Kelly.
Matt:)
Unfortunately, Saul lost all his true family. Benjamin dies of tuberculosis, Naomi freezes to death, his uncle, aunt, and parents die somehow, and his sister Rachel never returned from the residential school. Once liberated from the residential school, Saul has no one to go back to. “The boy has no family that we know of.” Pg. 96. Now when he needs help, and as Desmond wrote in his blog, he has no real family or anyone to turn to, to talk to about what took place at the residential school. In this view, his family was powerless to help him, as they were all dead. When he’s adopted by the Kelly’s, he doesn’t talk about the impacts of the residential school until about 20 years later, and he needed to talk about it to heal. In this way, family was shown powerless.
ReplyDelete“We only thought of… the brother-hood that bound us together off the ice, in the van, on the plank floors of reservation houses (and) in the truck stops”. Pg. 112,113. As Maya wrote in her blog, the Moose were like family to Saul. They could all share the feeling of anger, shame, rage, and the hurt. They could also, “tease each other… laugh… praise each other… (and) come together”. Pg. 113. Whenever Saul is asked by the scout to play in a higher league of hockey, his teammates encourage and push him to go, so that they can live their dreams through him. Saul had lived he best years of his life because of this non-biological family, and it’s only when he leaves the Moose that the troubles start getting out of control.
Finally, a major part of Saul’s family, was his non-biological brother, Virgil Kelly. Even though they were only related by adoption, Virgil was like a true brother to Saul. It was Virgil who helped Saul adapt to Manitouwadge, “Virgil sat up late with me and helped me with my lessons. He taught me how to understand school… (and) fit in. Virgil was my greatest ally”. Pg. 114. It was Virgil who accepted him first, “Virgil… stepped aside to make room for me”. Pg. 106. Virgil was also the one that pushed Saul to get better with weights, exercise, and practice. He was also the one who convinced Saul to play in the higher level of hockey. Finally, it’s Virgil who tells him, “You can come back anytime”. Pg. 156. Virgil did so much for Saul, and played a very important role in family, and was a great example of the strength and power of family.
−Eliakim Gutknecht
Q- What role does "family" play in the life of Saul Indian Horse? What constitutes "family" in this novel? Discuss examples of "family" strength, weakness, and powerlessness in the story.
ReplyDeleteA- Family mans a lot to saul. When he had family, such as his mom, dad, brother, aunt and uncle, and grandma, he felt completed. All of it went downwards as ben died, his family started to fall apart after that. That’s when Saul realized how important family was. After the rest of the family left to bury Benjamin, Saul was left with his grandma. Then, upon losing his grandma he saw complete darkness. Saul was lost without family and that shows us how much it meant to him.
The role of “family” is very important in this book, showing us that with family you become stronger, with them by your side. But, without them you become lost and powerless against the world. You don’t need them all the time, but when you do they’re mostly always there. Family, in this novel is the team, the Kelly’s and friends he’s made along the way. As Maya stated in her comment, The Moose (the team) were like family to saul, almost like brothers to him.
Family is very important in the life of Saul. Saul never really had a family he always moved or got taken away before he could actually call them family. Like Jordan said in his blog Saul never had a family except for aa couple people who betrayed him. In many parts of the story did get close to some people for example he was very close to father Leboutiler as they would watch the games and enjoy their love for hockey. But as we read at the end of the story he was betrayed and it change his life forever.
ReplyDeleteSaul does have people in his life that he does think of family. The Kelly family is like a family to Saul because they are always the ones he turns to at the end. Virgil is a brother for Saul as he always has his back, in the novel Saul always turns to Virgil for advice and for support. Whenever Saul had to make the decision of going to play for the Marlies he turned to Virgil and didn’t want to leave him as he was the closest thing to family he had. He always came back to him at the end.
The thing that defines family is the people you can turn to at anytime for something. They show you what to do and how to learn from it Saul had father Leboutier to show him how to play hockey and love the game. They can be there and you could have someone to talk to just like how Saul had Virgil to help Saul with decisions and make the right decisions. In the novel Saul struggled with racism more in Toronto but he had no one to talk to about it. Instead he kept all his emotions inside and it got to him and he turned to drinking. If he had family near him at that time he could have been big.
Q- What role does "family" play in the life of Saul Indian Horse? What constitutes "family" in this novel? Discuss examples of "family" strength, weakness, and powerlessness in the story.
ReplyDeleteI think family is important for Saul to have. Before Saul was taken away to St. Jerome’s Residential School he had a family that loved him. While he was at St. Jerome’s residential school he had some “friends” but they weren’t family I think that’s where he lost his connection with people. Like Erika said family means everything and after he lost his grandmother he felt lost and went into a dark place, but after all he went through he still though about the future children that want to play hockey, luckily for him he had good friends and supportive family next to him making sure he’s okay.
Conclusion family is so important for Saul, he has been through so much and I think having friends and family that understand him and support him and never give up on him is what he needs, I think the ending was the best outcome that could happen he had a somewhat good ending but at least we know the people he is with will always be by his side.
briana
I must agree with Jeremy about how family is complicated for Saul. When he was younger, he had his sister and brother taken away before his brother escaped back to his family just to find out he had a white man’s sickness and die shortly after. Then due to his brother’s death Saul’s parents setoff with his brother to give him a proper burial, but they never return. Saul’s grandma soon realizes that if they were going to survive they needed to leave gods lake to find civilization to escape the icy grip of winter. In their journey through miles of snow and freezing rivers, Saul’s grandma unfortunately passes away with Saul in her arms, and Saul is found and taken to St. Jerome’s residential school which for five years was his home, his family, his whole life. Saul was lucky enough to be adopted by a family named the Kelly’s due to his head turning skill in hockey. Towards the end of the book after Saul’s long travel through work and heart break he eventually goes back to his adopted family to hopefully live the rest of his life in piece.
ReplyDeleteFamily played a big part for Saul’s life story because it made him who he is. Because of the void that was left from Saul losing his family, he started playing hockey to fill that void. Unfortunately, Saul’s void ends up getting bigger and hockey can’t seem to fill it or Saul so he results in drinking a lot of alcohol and becoming a drunk until he manages to get clean and then begins to try to move on from all his bad memories and the terrible incidents that has occurred in his life. Also throughout Saul’s life, he experiences loss after loss and since his grandma passed he never really had a true family until Saul realizes that what has been looking for after a long time has been right in front of him the whole time. Back in the town of Moosonee, his true family the Kelly’s.
By Jakob Zihlmann
ReplyDeleteFamily plays a very important role in Saul’s life. In fact, the whole book is based around family and trying to find people that you can trust. Saul has trouble finding a true family and people that love him after his grandmother died, including father Leboutilier who Saul thought was his friend but obviously was not, we see that Father Leboutilier was just using Saul, and giving him the job of cleaning the ice to guard their secret, which was not “family” at all.
Family strength is portrayed in this novel by Saul and Naomi when Naomi did everything just to keep Saul alive even though it meant she might die, which she did. We also see family strength through the Kelly family when they brought him out of the residential school and fed him and bought him actual clothes which show they already love him like a family should, which Saul’s real family didn’t. family strength in this novel is also shown when Saul, Fred and Martha were sharing their own experiences at the residential schools. I must agree with Eliakim on the part where he said that Virgil Kelly was the one who helped Saul Even though they were only related by adoption, Virgil was like a true brother to Saul. It was Virgil who helped Saul adapt to Manitouwadge.
Family weakness in this novel was when Saul’s real family ditched Saul and Naomi for the booze. And even though they may be Saul’s real family they sure didn’t act like it. So, I’m glad Saul found the Kelly’s. Family powerlessness is shown in the novel when Father Leboutilier uses Saul for his own pleasure, so Saul felt powerless when it came to Father Leboutilier.
Jakob
ReplyDeleteFamily is important to Saul because he really doesn’t have much family left. After his parents left him and his brother Benjamin and his grandmother Naomi died, he didn’t really have any family left. I agree with Briana because before he was taken to St. Jerome's Residential School, he did have a family that loved him. Saul has been through so much without having a family. When Saul was brought to play hockey with the Kelly family. He had Fred, Martha and Virgil Kelly he had a family for a while. He had the Moose family has his family also. But when Saul was given an opportunity to play in the NHL, he would have to leave his family and go play in the NHL. Saul went to go play in the NHL but didn’t have any family to help him through hard times. He was teased because he was Indian, so they called him a “rampaging redskin”. He eventually left the NHL because of the teasing. Saul took up drinking to deal with his problems that he has faced.
What defines family to me is a loving group of people who care about you and your well being. The strength I gain from my family is support. My family is always there for me when I need them. They are always there cheering me on my accomplishments. They have always been proud of me. Family is a big part of my life just like Saul without family I would fall apart. Family is important to me nothing will change that. Family makes me feel and be stronger as person. Saul went to a dark place without his family there for him.
Tiffany Blais
Family plays a large role in Saul Indian Horses life. Family for Saul are people who accepted him even though he has a lot of rough edges and a heavy past. In the novel when Saul gets back from trying to find peace, Virgil invites him to play hockey with the Moose’s. This makes Saul feel like he never left, and he always had his voluntary family waiting for him. The Kelly’s, the moose’s, and his family. They all make him feel needed and at home when he was struggling the most.
ReplyDeleteFamily to me. Family is the people who give you the strength and the courage to take the big leap. They make you feel needed, and at home even when you don’t. Like Maya I agree that the Moose’s faced challenges together. It helped Saul realize that togetherness is better than being alone in such a big world.
Megan SAuve
Family plays an important role in the life of Saul Indian Horse. Saul’s real family left him after the death of his brother Benjamin. Saul felt happy when he was with the Kelly’s. Fred Kelly treated Saul as part of his family and Virgil and Saul had brotherly bond.
ReplyDeleteSaul’s family felt powerless when Benjamin was taken away and with his illness. I think therefore they abandoned Saul and his grandma, Saul’s family was broken by the residential school system which made them give up and not protect Saul.
To me family is defined as a blood relative, you cannot choose them. A family member is someone you care about who has been in your life for a long time. The strengths I get from my family are love and support and experience. I have learned a lot from my family thru all the things they have taught me.
Family plays a big role in Saul’s life because he jumped through families that all supported him to proceed his dream of playing hockey also his true family abandoned him and Naomi. Naomi died later. Saul got adopted by the Kelly’s he grew up there and played for the moose. He was then scouted and adopted by a white family.
ReplyDeleteThe families affected Saul in a way because the Kelly’s went to a residential school so they could talk to Saul about residential schools. The white family had many indigenous kids who played hockey live there.
fred
I agree with Jacob, family plays a very important role in Saul’s life. In fact, the whole book is based around family and trying to find people that you can trust. Saul loses his family at a very young an important time in his life. Because Saul lost his family he looks to find love in other ways. Father Leboutiller becomes Saul’s first relationship and isn’t a good one. The father would rape Saul but Saul didn’t want to speak up because it was the only love he has felt in a long time. Also, Saul felt that it was the only way he could play hockey.
ReplyDeleteFor me, family is something important and something that needs to be cherished. I think a lot of people take family for granted when they shouldn’t. Saul loses his brother first, then his Mom and Dad, then finally Saul loses his Grandma. When Saul goes to the school the first person he meets is Lonnie. Him and Lonnie become familiar with each other because they both went through the same stuff. When Saul goes to the Kelly’s and starts to play for the moose they treat him like part of the family. Makes Saul feel welcome. Fred and his wife knew what Saul had gone through and could relate to him with their experiences. Although they waited till the end to do so that’s what family is about.
Family plays a very important role in Saul’s life. He grew up with a loving family but, as the time went on, they were slowly drifting apart because of all the horrors his parents experienced in residential schools, the grief for their children who were taken away from them, and constant alcohol usage. His grandmother was always by his side and did everything she could to help him. She stayed with him until the end and sacrificed her life to save his. When Saul was in residential school he didn’t have a family and he didn’t even know where his parents were. “The boy has no family that we know of.” Pg. 96
ReplyDeleteWhen Saul was sent to Manitouwadge Virgil, Fred, and Martha Kelly became Saul’s family. They were always supportive and they cared about him. They understood what he had to go through and didn’t ask him any questions about the school. Virgil helped Saul a lot. He stayed up late to help him with his lessons, taught him how to fit in with the other kids, and showed him many new moves in hockey. “Virgil and I grew close. He was my greatest ally.” Pg. 114 Like Maya said, the Moose had also become Saul’s family, they were like brothers to him. They accepted him very quickly, supported him and wanted the best for him. He could also see his family in visions and that helped Saul find his way in the end.
I agree with Desmond that Saul’s real family was powerless against white people, they couldn’t prevent their children from going to residential school. To me family means someone you can talk to, who will always support you no matter what, and who you can always trust. Saul’s new family (Fred, Martha, Virgil, and the Moose) made him stronger, made him believe in himself. They were always there for him and helped him overcome many obstacles.
Anastasiia Vynohradova
In this novel we see that family is a big part of Saul's life. With him being taken away from his family and yet still trying to find that comfort else. After all that time being in the residential school, St.Jerome, without anyone there to support him or want better for him but then there was father Leboutiller who introduced him to hockey. But the feeling of being safe still wasn't there because he ended up hurting Saul too. Saul finally finds the Kelly's who give him a real home, love and truly do support him.
ReplyDeleteFamily consists of love, strength and support from each other. When Saul lost his family he felt like he lost his hold world he was not only sad but vulnerable to me personally that is a sign of weakness. Once Saul met the Kelly's they treated him like family and welcomed his into their home getting close with him and trying to bond. That is an example of strength. They started treating him like family just like Saul and Virgil they were not only best friends but brothers.
I agree with Jordan, that what makes a family is not only blood but a bond of some sort with an individual.
-Monica Rebelo-Reis
The role family does not play in Saul Indian horse’s life. Saul didn’t really get to know his family well enough due to him getting forced into the residential school. All he got to know that he was an Ojibway, Saul’s grandma tried to teach him more about who he really and that is where family comes in. Saul got his vision powers from God’s lake due to his grandmother telling him about it. Even though he didn’t have anyone to talk to about his problems, he was strong and he played hockey. In the book he talks about how hockey helps him and get his mind off things.
ReplyDeleteFamily defines everything to me. Without my family I wouldn’t be the person I am today. Family to me is where they take care of u. then they support you on things u need to do, family is where people will be here for you even after you been bad or did something horrible. Like Jordon said: everyone’s got your back when and whenever you need i. everyone has each others backs.
Zahi siddiky