Character Analysis: Description, Motivations, and Conflicts
Besides the main character, White Wolf is the most interesting person to discuss in “Welcome to Your Authentic Indian Experience” by Rebecca Roanhorse. He is elusive, ever-changing, and complex, perfect for representing Jesse’s interactions with the outside world. While he is introduced as a shy man with a genuine interest in his ancestors’ culture, his role becomes more menacing by the end of the story.
During his first appearance, the reader is presented with a man in his late twenties. His appearance has no interesting or outstanding features, but Jesse notices that “there’s something sad about him” (Roanhorse, 2017). This sadness is probably derived from his shy search for a cultural identity that slowly becomes more noticeable later.
He genuinely wants to know more about his ancestors and is interested in Jesse as his guide and friend who can introduce him to the spiritual side of his heritage. To achieve this, he uses natural charm on the main character, his wife, and his colleagues. However, White Wolf does not communicate his true intentions until the very end, as his primary professional goal is to represent the systematic oppression experienced by indigenous people in their daily lives.
Psychoanalytic Criticism: Exploring Unconscious Motives and Desires
Jesse’s unconscious desire to experience this oppression may be analyzed through psychoanalytic criticism, bringing a new perspective to the plot study. This sudden change allows the reader to reconsider the whole story using a different prism.
An interesting point can be made if the reader compares the characters’ attitudes to the job of experience providers. One might think about White Wolf’s internal struggle with inducing harm to Jesse. This experience requires several cruel acts to be conducted toward the client, which cannot be ignored. The last part’s lack of emotional expression from White Wolf is probably intentional in making the reader wonder if he distances himself from the tourists outside simulations or genuinely enjoys his job in a sadistic way. This is also where a psychoanalytic criticism approach may be helpful to enhance the analysis. Although there is no clear answer to this conundrum, the character is still interesting to discuss further.
Thesis Statement
The problem of otherness and alienation in society can be seen in systematic oppression, individual interpersonal connections, and the internal struggle to accept one’s identity.
Reference
Roanhorse, R. (2017). Welcome to your authentic Indian experienceTM. Apex-magazine.com. Web.