The second half of the novel introduces new characters and goes in-depth of the recent state of all the characters. Beginning with Albertine, she has connections with Henry, Lyman, Gerry, and Lipsha that are revealed to expand the perspectives on the reservation. Albertine has relations with Henry (whose brother is Lyman), works for Gerry (whose son is Lipsha), and knows Lipsha through childhood. After revealing the connections to these four men, Erdrich chooses to show the perspectives of them as well as the perspective of June’s husband, Gordie. Gordie is a drunk and hallucinates that he has killed June when it is only a deer. The chapter involving Gordie reveals some unanswered questions about June’s state. However, in the concluding chapters the novel focuses on Lipsha. Lipsha is the grandson of Nector and Marie. Through Lipsha’s, Marie’s, and Lulu’s perspective it tells that Nector has lost his mind and is still in love with Lulu. The love between Nector and Lulu makes Lipsha try to create a Love Medicine, through blessed turkey hearts, to save the relations of his grandparents. Instead of healing, the Love Medicine ends up killing Nector. Nevertheless, the death of Nector caused by the Love Medicine creates a new found bound and understanding between Lulu and Marie.
The last major event written is Lipsha finding out the truth about his parents. His true parents are June and Gerry. Once finding out this information, Lipsha runs away where on his journey he joins the army, meets up with King, meets Gerry (who has escaped from jail), and finds an understanding of what his parents are like despite the death of June. The novel ends with Lipsha reflecting that his mother had made a good choice. Lipsha is happy that he is raised by Grandma Kashpaw. Through all these events and connections, Erdrich illustrates the turmoil of life and the blending of cultures.
Connecting the novel to my research, Erdrich reveals underlying problems that are found in a reservation life. She reveals the distrust that occurs between Native Americans and the judicial system through the character Gerry. The judicial system is illustrated to not trust and believe Native Americans, especially as witnesses in court. The invalidity that Native Americans feel because of the mistrust and not having proper identification make the Native Americans, in return, not trust the judicial system. Other pieces of research that I found in the novel were the abuse and alcoholism seen on reservations. Gordie expresses both the abuse and alcoholism. He is abusive to his wife, June, which he reveals because of how he reminisces of her and how he hallucinates killing her. He also becomes an alcoholic after June’s death. The last piece of research that I would like to point out is sexual abuse. Henry and Albertine have relations but I question the validity of whether it is wanted or forced. I am unsure whether Albertine truly wants to have sex with Henry because of how she tenses, is scared, and thinks of running away. If it is unwanted, as I believe it is, I think this makes a big statement. It illustrates not only the factual information of how Native American women are sexually abused but makes the statement that the Native American women believe they are powerless and cannot fight back when the abuse occurs. Albertine simply caves in and lets the act continue. If this is unwanted, then it illustrates how women are meant to feel inferior and cave into the whims of men.
Analyzing the novel itself, Erdrich expresses the emotions of love, jealousy, trust, etcetera of life. Through the main characters Nector, Marie, and Lulu these emotions are expressed most. The Love Medicine itself is shown to be unreliable especially since it is created improperly by Lipsha. However, the unreliability seems to express that nothing can change the heart, the emotions that come in life whether they are appalling or excellent. Erdrich also illustrates the blending of cultures and religion. She discusses the blending of Native Americans reservation life and the outside societies. She also discusses the blending of Native American and catholic religion. Erdrich blends elements together to express the problems that occur with rejection but also everyday life for Native Americans.
After reading the novel, I have a new understanding of Native American culture because of the factual based information that is embedded in the novel. It gives an inside look to the reservation life and struggles of a Native American and Native American women.
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