Topic > Analyzing Chabon's Antagonist

The legends of Coyote date back hundreds of years and find their beginnings in ancient Native American roots. In fact, the Coyote tales have no real origin; many American Indian tribes have their own perspective on him. However, one of the most frequent similarities found in any story about Coyote is that Coyote is always a male figure, intelligent even in the slightest way. Almost always, Coyote has a somewhat mischievous vibe that follows him everywhere, which allows him to have the personality of a trickster, usually for entertainment purposes. In some older and more traditional stories, to explain the ways of time and nature, Coyote is usually seen as a darker and harsher character. An example of this type of primitive genre is found in the tales of the Caddo tribe, who lived in the southeastern territory of North America ("Facts for Kids: Caddo Indians (Caddos)"). This myth is known as Coyote and the Origin of Death, and it plays a profound but surprising role in Michael Chabon's modern novel Summerland. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Become Original EssayAs one of their stories tells, the leaders were holding a council about overpopulation, as it was a time before death. They all agreed on temporary death so that the overcrowding of the land and natural resources would disappear, but happiness would remain among their people objected, saying that everyone should, at some point in their lives, die and never return to the mortal realm , but no one, even in the slightest, agreed with him (Dorsey 15-16). agreeing on the new rules, they built a house, where they could rejuvenate the dead. There was a magical feather, which fell, bloody, when someone experienced death. And after the spirit of the corpse entered the house, like a world wind, the sorcerers sang the dead back to life (Dorsey 16). Coyote watched as these new rules were put into place (Dorsey 16). . He was terribly disappointed and upset (Dorsey 16). And so, for a few days, he watched, sitting with the sorcerers' chanters (Dorsey 16). Then, after several days, when the feather finally fell and a whirlwind approached the entrance, he closed the door again (Dorsey 16). And with that permanent death it became eternal (Dorsey 16). As can be seen, in this myth, Coyote is depicted as a sneaky and cunning animal, patiently carrying out his mischievous plans without any sign of mercy. In the novel Summerland, Chabon skillfully integrates Native American mythology of this type into the plot and characters. . This approach allows the reader to understand the text in more depth and detail, or “read between the lines.” This statement is especially true of the book's antagonist; Chabon uses the Native American mythology at hand to describe and explain Coyote the Changer's problematic actions and overall mischievous personality. He uses aspects of the mythological Coyote, the prominent character of Caddo literature, to create his own version that fits his novel: Coyote the Changer. To begin with, a characteristic that Chabon borrows from Coyote, in the myth Coyote and the origin of death. , to form one's antagonist is patience. In the text, when Coyote is unable to take the Shard away, the final ingredient to complete the universe, away from Ethan, he sets it aside waiting for desperation to overtake him (Chabon 434-436). Coyote says that he waited a long time for the time to come and that he could have waited a little longer (Chabon 434-436). This dialogue demonstrates Coyote's patience, something also found in the Native American myth of the Caddo: Coyote and. 2017.