Chapeter 18 Analysis

'The Tall Indian'

Chapter 18 is called the ‘The Tall Indian’, in this chapter the Ingalls are visited by several different kinds of Native Americans. The first one abruptly enters the cabin and the language Laura uses to describe the Indian automatically alienates him from the white Ingall family

‘They couldn't take their eyes from that Indian. He was so still that the beautiful eagle-feathers in his scalplock didn't stir. Only his bare chest and the leanness under his ribs moved a little to his breathing.’

Everyone but Pa in that moment is terrified, especially Ma, who had previously been talking about how much she didn't like Indians. After peacefully sharing a meal and some tobacco with Pa, the Indian leaves, after which Ma says ‘Let Indians keep themselves to themselves’. Although meant as a threat the irony within this line is almost humorous, as any reader would think that the only reason the Indians would ‘invade’ the white settlements was due to the fact that their land was being stolen and that they were being forced to move out. Throughout this encounter, the family dog Jack acts aggressively towards the Indian and any Indian he comes across after that ‘He stood with his back bristled, and all his teeth showed’ and Laura clearly states at the beginning of the chapter ‘Jack hated Indians’. I found this odd as the first Indian to visit the Ingalls was not going to do them any harm, however Ma seems to agree with Jack’s behaviour which seems to suggest that since its almost common knowledge that animals can sense danger or any threats around them before most humans due, by having Jack react the way he does, was Wilder trying to comment on the natural perception of Native Americans being nothing but dangerous animals held at that time.

You can also find various description of life in the plains in this chapter. Laura describes the way in which Pa went hunting and captured their food and how they kept warm in the winter

‘Pa set his traps in the creek bottoms. Every day he visited them, and every day he went hunting. Now that the nights were freezing cold he shot deer for meat. He shot wolves and foxes for their fur, and his traps caught beaver and muskrat and mink’. 

This description shows the simple life that they lived and it very much keeps with the American ideal of living off the fat of the land.

However later on in the chapter the two unfriendly Indians enter the cabin and go through the Ingall family belongings whilst Laura and Mary hide behind the frightened Ma who is carrying baby Carrie. Laura says that the only reason the Natives came into the house was because ‘Jack was chained’. 

After the Indians have left and Pa has returned the girls are put to bed, where Ma sings them a lullaby, presumably about an Indian ‘maid’. It is in this part of the chapter that Laura ask a series of questions that clearly make Ma and Pa uncomfortable such as ‘Will the government make these Indians go west?’ and ‘But, Pa I thought this was Indian territory.’ The way in which Pa answers Laura indicates that he knows what they are doing is wrong although there is nothing he can do about it as he probably genuinely believes that although the land belongs to the Indians, white settlers will treat the land better and the way that it’s how things should be.

‘When white settlers come into a country, the Indians have to move on. The government is going to move these Indians farther west, any time now. That’s why we’re here, Laura. White people are going to settle all this country, and we get the best land because we get here first and take our pick.’

What relevance does this text have for today and what does the marketing of the book suggest?

I think that this text holds a significant amount of relevance for today's society, especially that of America. the description of life during the period of migration holds some sort of value as many Americans with ancestors who were settlers can learn about what life was like back then. Since this book is advertised as a children's book it would be very important for many American children to read about America in time when the American wilderness was very much alive and apart of day to day life. It can also be used to educate children and adults to views held by many white settlers at this time especially those about Native Americans and can be used as a way of warning against these views.