"Three Day Road"

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses the concepts of the novel, "Three Day Road," written by Joseph Boyden. It shows how the novel sheds light on the challenges faced by Aboriginal Canadians as they fought to hang onto their own identity during the First World War, while they were faced with the competing claims of aggressive, dominant colonialism. It also describes how Boyden shows this in an unconventional way - by situating two of the three main characters - Xavier and Elijah - far from their home, in Belgium and France.

From the Paper:

"The medicine bundle was tied around his neck by Niska when he left to join the Canadian army, and it represents his Aboriginal identity and his roots. This act of affirmation, and the act of killing Elijah, together set the stage for his salvation via reclaiming his identity. However, the combination of his brutal experiences, the loss of his leg and the injury to his arm, and the morphine habit he has acquired as a result of his injury, are together such a great weight that he expects to die. However, Niska revives him by telling stories that put him back in touch with his heritage and his identity. She cements this for him by removing his wemistikoshiw (white) clothes, and participating with him in a cleansing-by-heat ceremony in the matatosowin. Thus, the three day journey by canoe down the river becomes not a journey to death for Xavier, but rather a journey to rebirth - as himself again."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Boyden, Joseph. (2005). Three Day Road. Toronto: Viking Canada.

More papers on "Three Day Road":

• Book Review # 131579 : "Three Day Road" - A Book Review"
• Book Review # 96412 : "The Three Day Blow"--A Review"
• Case Study # 52353 : "Assessment of a Vomiting Four-Day-Old Child"

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