Discovering Identity in Louise Erdrich's Master Butchers Singing Club
Louise Erdrich develops characters with complex identities in The
Master Butchers Singing Club. These characters can be analyzed in
terms of the impact family has on their development as individuals,
as well as through the lens of parts of the psychoanalytic theories
of Carl Jung. The character Fidelis is discussed in terms of the
way family has influenced him, as well as the way in which he deals
with the opposing forces that make up his personality. The
character Delphine is better understood through Jung s theory of
the persona, which provides a lens through which much of Delphine s
character can be understood, particularly Delphine s tough exterior
as a mask for her inner vulnerability. This book seeks to prove
that Erdrich is presenting a complex picture of identity that can
be viewed as a microcosm for the oppositions and complexities that
exist for humanity in a larger sense and will benefit literary
scholars in the field of American Literature.
Jeris Swanhorst, M.A.: Studied English, Literature at Minnesota State University, Mankato. English and Literature Instructor at Minnesota State University, Mankato and Le Cordon Bleu, Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN.
