Louise Erdrich’s The Painted Drum : The “Road” for the Search of Identity and Healing

Abstract

Louise Erdrich’s The Painted Drum is peculiar in the creation of a mythic painted drum and the story’s focus on young children in tragic but respectful elements. The novel reflects the author’s notion of her responsibility as a Native American writer to tell Natives a way to survive and preserve their traditional culture in white society. Especially, the American government’s boarding school policy was fatal in the transmission of cultural heritage to the next generation. Faye’s feeling of living a meaningless life and having no particular interest in her Native cultural heritage, has to be cured through her journey to the reservation in order to find the rightful owner of the painted drum. Bernard’s storytelling is a catalyst in dissolving her hardcore westernized view of life and death. Armed with Ojibwe belief and her new vision, Faye can revitalize her latent identity as a Native and pursue a harmonious life with nature. The ending of the novel shows the manifestation of Erdrich’s wish for the preservation of Native tradition and culture, providing Faye a new perspective on life and a worldview which enables her to heal by promising a hopeful life.