Native Births: The Isolation and Independence of New Mothers in Waterlily and hospitable housewives, but also as a primordial maternal mother. beings responsible for the birth of the new generation of the tribe. One of the supreme duties of these women is to create offspring who will be raised with respect for tradition, value kinship etiquette and perpetuate tribal heritage. Although Waterlily details the circumstances in which children must be raised, the emphasis is carefully placed on the mother's duty to the birth itself. This text places particular emphasis on the means by which a woman must give birth as a member of a tribe, whether she participates in a tribal migration at the end of her term or waits safely in the shelter of an established campsite. The first part of Waterlily invites the reader to witness Blue Bird's birth on two different occasions. These episodes differ in terms of location and the terms by which tribal society dictates the new mother's behavior. The text therefore infuses a kind of value into the social power of the physical act, striving to detail how it specifically concerns the mother's reputation in tribal society. While the first birth emphasizes Blue Bird's isolation, the second further details the conflation between the social expectation to be independent and her duty to maintain positive relationships with the female relatives who help her prepare for the birth. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay The birth of Waterlily in the first chapter of the novel is quite a powerful introduction to the often difficult circumstances surrounding the birth of a child. As this is Blue Bird's first time giving birth, there is a heightened presence of anxiety as the narrative unfolds. Not only has she been traveling on horseback for a long time, but she is also expected to sneak away from her migrating tribesmen and give birth on her own. No one is explicitly told why or where she is going, even in a potential emergency. Current readers of the novel can admire Blue Bird's courage to do it alone, without medical care or even the support of a loved one. Therefore, Blue Bird's venturing into the remote woods draws praise for her ability to care for herself and her child without the help of immediate community support. Drawing on her memory and her grandmother's wisdom in childbirth, Blue Bird labors in the solitude of the isolation of the woods. Sheltered by the trees, she endures this physical feat with nothing other than the comfort that her grandmother's words can give her. One of the most revealing pieces of wisdom obtained by Blue Bird is this: “No woman cries like a baby; people make fun of that… If one is old enough to have a child, one is old enough to endure in silence” (Deloria 5). She maintains her silence out of a desire for community respect, despite her isolation from the rest of the group and her natural tendency to moan in intense pain. After successfully giving birth to Waterlily, Blue Bird is described as wrapping her newborn in a secretly prepared tawny skin. This particular detail is relevant in that it shows that she spent time equipping herself to give birth alone. Even during her preparation, she did not rely solely on the providence of others. Blue Bird carries herself with strength and dignity as she approaches her impending due date..

Essay / Native Births: The Isolation and Independence of New Mothers in Waterlily and hospitable housewives, but also as a primordial maternal mother. beings responsible for the birth of the new generation of the tribe. One of the supreme duties of these women is to create offspring who will be raised with respect for tradition, value kinship etiquette and perpetuate tribal heritage. Although Waterlily details the circumstances in which children must be raised, the emphasis is carefully placed on the mother's duty to the birth itself. This text places particular emphasis on the means by which a woman must give birth as a member of a tribe, whether she participates in a tribal migration at the end of her term or waits safely in the shelter of an established campsite. The first part of Waterlily invites the reader to witness Blue Bird's birth on two different occasions. These episodes differ in terms of location and the terms by which tribal society dictates the new mother's behavior. The text therefore infuses a kind of value into the social power of the physical act, striving to detail how it specifically concerns the mother's reputation in tribal society. While the first birth emphasizes Blue Bird's isolation, the second further details the conflation between the social expectation to be independent and her duty to maintain positive relationships with the female relatives who help her prepare for the birth. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay The birth of Waterlily in the first chapter of the novel is quite a powerful introduction to the often difficult circumstances surrounding the birth of a child. As this is Blue Bird's first time giving birth, there is a heightened presence of anxiety as the narrative unfolds. Not only has she been traveling on horseback for a long time, but she is also expected to sneak away from her migrating tribesmen and give birth on her own. No one is explicitly told why or where she is going, even in a potential emergency. Current readers of the novel can admire Blue Bird's courage to do it alone, without medical care or even the support of a loved one. Therefore, Blue Bird's venturing into the remote woods draws praise for her ability to care for herself and her child without the help of immediate community support. Drawing on her memory and her grandmother's wisdom in childbirth, Blue Bird labors in the solitude of the isolation of the woods. Sheltered by the trees, she endures this physical feat with nothing other than the comfort that her grandmother's words can give her. One of the most revealing pieces of wisdom obtained by Blue Bird is this: “No woman cries like a baby; people make fun of that… If one is old enough to have a child, one is old enough to endure in silence” (Deloria 5). She maintains her silence out of a desire for community respect, despite her isolation from the rest of the group and her natural tendency to moan in intense pain. After successfully giving birth to Waterlily, Blue Bird is described as wrapping her newborn in a secretly prepared tawny skin. This particular detail is relevant in that it shows that she spent time equipping herself to give birth alone. Even during her preparation, she did not rely solely on the providence of others. Blue Bird carries herself with strength and dignity as she approaches her impending due date..

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