Reply to comment

Allen's essay is my favorite piece that I have read so far this semester. Ironically, just after I finished reading her essay I received an e-mail from a mentor that started her e-mail with, "... it is somehow more about seeing the forest from the trees..." Her words may have flip-floped those of Allen's, but is of an identical bearing. I was surprised by such a coincidence and felt that maybe I should really start looking into the background of the forest that I am a part of.

Allen refuted each one of my westernized interpretations about the tale. Allen predicted many of the westernized interpretations and analysis that emerged as I read the tale including the comparison of the Robin Hood story to the tale, the assumed unhappy marraige, and the submission of Kochinnenako which then lead to a generalization that most women must be subjected to submission in the tribe. Just as Allen noted, the title lead me to the notion that Kochinnenako would be the heroine in the tale. Obviously, I was incorrect.

Despite my initial falcities, I favor the Keres Indian story over the westernized version. The Keres Indians may have significantly different values that influence how they live their lives compared to western ideals but the question of how much meaning was lost in translation also remains. Regardless, I would have to agree with MerryBelleFrey and note that I much rather the holistic interpretation and values of what our Western minds our abe to decipher from the culture and ways of the Keres Indians. I found the tale's values similar to the values,spirituality, and religion of the East. Rather than shining a focus on external forces guiding one through life the emphasis is put on one's inner central core. Life is a balancing act.

Not one of us chose to be born into this world of inequality but that is the reality. We can centralize positive energy toward equilibrium of all forces rather than exert unhealthy amounts of energy toward such asperity. To quote MerryBelleFrey, "All the bits and pieces of my life are rearranging themselves in a great 3-dimensional patchwork." I prefer to look at life as a balancing act and a neverending challenge to put together a multi dimensional puzzle that cannot be completed in this world.