The Grass Dancer

A detailed Summary of The Grass Dancer

It is apparent that religion and magic realism encompasses almost every character in this book and it also plays a parallel role. The main characters have to battle between the Western World's religion, Christianity, and their own religion. Some people do convert, but it is the Dakota religion that seems to be stronger and have a lot more meaning to its people. The whole religion concept begins with Red Dress, a Sioux that has been with her people even after her death.

This novel moves back and forth in time from 1864-1982. In the mid 1860's, a young Sioux maiden, Red Dress, translates the sermons of Father La Frambois but deliberately misinterprets the Jesuit's message, through which he hoped to convert her tribe. In a dream, she sees herself in a western settlement and is compelled to journey to Fort Laramie, "My life, like Ghost Horse's, was altered by a dream. It was decided that I would travel to Fort Laramie after the spring thaw. No one knew what would happen once I arrived-assuming I completed the treacherous journey-least of all myself. Father La Frambois had said the Lord called him into service, and this is how I felt: directed by the spiritsaE? (Power 247). Here she becomes secretary to the zealous Reverend

As the voice of collective tribal memory, Red Dress appears to Harley Wind Soldier in 1982 during a vision, telling him that as a grass dancer, he needs to realize what he is dancing for. "A long time ago, when we vanquished our enemies in battle we would hold a victory dance and flaunt trophies of war-the long hair of our adversaries. So when you move through those old steps, remember that you are dancing a rebellion and that the pretty fringes are hiding blood and flesh and captured hairaE? (Power 331).

Pyke, and falls victim to the ultimate treachery when the crazed preacher murders her, "You will not work your ways on me, Pyke thundered. I made you and fostered your demon intelligence. I will unmake you.... He raised his silver revolver, aiming it at my heart. The gun's barrel was a black eye, and when it exploded, a streak of bright color rose to meet the bulletaE? (Power 276). After Pyke shot Red Dress, he left a note pinned to her dress saying, "Upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy lifeaE? (Power 278). Pyke was basically telling Red Dress she would become a snake and wonder the earth, instead of passing on into another life. To Reverend Pyke, that would seem bad, but not to Red Dress and her people. Since Red Dress was a baby, she had been guided and protecte

Some common words found in the essay are:
Wind Soldier, Red Dress, Dress Power's, Reverend Pyke, Western World's, La Frambois, , Fort Laramie, Dress Sioux, red dress, Frambois Lord, magic realism, father la frambois, la frambois, reverend pyke, memory enables, own religion, dakota people, shalt thou, appears harley, appears harley wind, harley wind soldier, own voice,

Approximate Word count = 890
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English

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The Grass Dancer

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