Margaret Craven’s novel, I Heard the Owl Call My Name, presents the story of Mark Brian, who is sent to the secluded Kingcome Village in British Columbia. After being told that Mark has only two years to live, the Bishop sends him to this remote Kwakiutl tribe so he can learn “enough of the meaning of life to be ready to die” (144).
Through his discovery of the meaning of existence, the ordinand realizes many eternal truths of dignity, love, courage, and life.
One of the major truths Mark learns about is dignity. Before setting foot on the land of Kingcome, Mark learns a big truth about it which is spoken by the Bishop. By relating pride for oneself and pride for one’s land, Mark’s purpose is fully understood. “The Indian knows his village and feels for his village as no white man for his country, his town, or even for his own bit of land” (19).
It is clear that one’s feeling towards his or herself is shown through his or her feeling of the land, thus; these people possess a high dignity and pride for themselves. Another aspect of the Kwakiutl dignity demonstrates itself every time the RCMP officer visits. One day, during the óolachon (candlefish) fishing, an officer plans to photograph the event. He knows it is sacred and essential to their culture, but does not care. The Indians, being an upright and dignified people, permit this cultural abomination and say nothing. Eventually, as the RCMP officer plans to leave, they help him in his boat and happen to drop his camera in the river (78-79).
The Essay on Mark Twain 14
Mark Twain is important to American literature because of his novels and how they portray the American experience. Some of his best selling novels were Innocents Abroad, Life on the Mississippi, Huckleberry Finn, and The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. In these books, Mark Twain recalls his own adventures of steamboating on the Mississippi River. Samuel Langhorne Clemens was born on November 30, 1835 in ...
They uphold their honor, pride, and dignity, though, by not being callous and wickedly vengeful, no matter what the officer deserves. Mark enjoys this story and recognizes the true definition of dignity: being honorable at all times.
Another truth Mark comes to comprehend better is love. There are two loves written about in this novel. The first is love for man, or rather, community. With such a harsh climate and so much work to be accomplished, there stands no fend-for-oneself attitude. All survive or all die. “To keep fed, to keep warm, to keep alive. No woman said, ‘I am sorry. I have only enough fuel for my own family,’ and no man said, ‘. . . I cannot share with you, friend’” (131).
Everyone in the tribe respects and even cherishes all other members, because all understand that each person is an integral part of their society. This is a great cultural difference from what Mark is accustomed to in Vancouver, and he comes to cherish it also. Another love that he learns about is of the family. Mark comes to realize that family must not always be a standard and conventional outside-worldview with a man, wife, and several children. Real love exists in nontraditional homes, as well. For instance, when Keetah returns from the outside world and life with Gordon, she confides in Mark about her situation. She is pregnant with Gordon’s child just to keep a part of him in the village-the place of their childhood-and though Jim and she are engaged, Jim desires the child. He states, “A child is always welcome . . . when I marry her, her child will be mine” (139).
Mark, at first, cannot fathom this. He thinks it wrong, but eventually understands the real love and meaning of family.
During this conversation with Keetah, Mark discovers yet another eternal truth: courage. Keetah has only known life in Kingcome Village but decides to leave anyway. Upon the failure to cope with Gordon’s outside life and the realization that her childhood culture serves her better, Keetah acknowledges and teaches the ordinand another difficulty of life. “There is something harder yet . . . to come home to the village I love. It is the same. I am not” (138).
She unintentionally explains that one can (or should) always be able to go home, no matter what mistakes he or she makes or how much shame exists. Having the courage to return to one’s family is a great truth and hope of life. Also, Mark inadvertently realizes another aspect of courage shortly before Calamity’s death, when both he and Mark know Calamity’s life is fleeting. Calamity says that he is probably an agnostic and Mark replies, “There’s a good bit of agnostic in all of us, Calamity. None of us knows much-only enough to trust to reach out a hand in the dark” (134).
The Essay on Down: Personal Life and Time
In college it is easy to stray away from the main purpose, which is having a higher education. College years are supposed to include fun but not too much fun. There are many ideals to consider when trying achieving success in school. They way students manage their time and consume energy has an effect on the outcome of their success. Relaxation also plays a significant role in the turn out of ...
This simple statement indicates that there may be higher power, but that no one can be certain. All people possess the courage to rise daily and thrive, because life is fleeting. This thought, though at the time unnoticed by Mark, foreshadows his death.
Eventually, there comes a time when the weary vicar realizes he will die, and he contemplates life and its many truths. After finishing Calamity’s funeral, he rides in a boat and pieces the puzzle together. While deliberating death, Mark thinks of his years with the Kwakiutl people and how time has shifted as he stands there. “First . . . it was the future that loomed huge. So much to learn. Then it was the present that had consumed him-each day with all its chores . . .” (148).
As he journeys down the river, he reflects on his journey in life and sees that time contains no contours. Time, like life, is fleeting and each day is precious. Mark also observes nature, knowing the Kwakiutl’s strong bond with it. He sees geese, sawbills, and swimmers (salmon) do what they naturally do, and how they “feel the pull of the earth and know [their] small place upon it, as did the Indian in his village” (149).
Mark understands that no matter how simple it may be-geese flying over a river, trees swaying in the wind, or ordinands leading a tribe of people- everything has a purpose in life. Everyone must seize his or her brief life and time to live. Mark understands this, a final and imperative truth of life, as well.
While reflecting upon his life and the things he has learned, Mark realizes that never a moment is wasted. He works hard for two years and understands that he did learn “enough of the meaning of life to be ready to die.” Therefore, time matters to me. I am young and know I have much to do, both now and in my future, and I cannot waste one single breath of life, because it is too short. I desire no regrets, and awareness of time allows me to live life to the fullest. The values we treasure do help guide us through life. As we follow those nuggets of truth that we have been taught since childhood, we encounter new things-some good, some bad, some scary, and some glad. From those experiences, we learn, just like Mark Brian, and from these experiences we discover eternal truths of the meaning of existence.
The Essay on Life Changing Experience Thinking Things People
Life Changing Experience Death. To people it means many different things. Some people may not think anything of it, until it strikes close to them. I know before I had my father pass away, I never thought once about it. When I first heard of my dad dying, it made me way sad. I was ten or eleven, not old enough yet to understand, why someone would want to take their own life. I was crushed when it ...
