Fictional In-Betweenness Fictional In-Betweenness in Deborah Larsen’s in Deborah Larsen’s The The

WhiteWhite (2003) (2003)

Judit Ágnes Kádár PhDJudit Ágnes Kádár PhDEszterházy University College, Eszterházy University College,

EgerEger

1820s: 5 books addressed the issue of 1820s: 5 books addressed the issue of intermarriage: James Eastburn-Robert intermarriage: James Eastburn-Robert Sands: Sands: YamoydenYamoyden (1820), James Seaver’s (1820), James Seaver’s transcribed life of Mary Jemison (1824), transcribed life of Mary Jemison (1824), Lydia Maria Child: Lydia Maria Child: HobomokHobomok (1824), (1824), Sedgewick: Sedgewick: Hope Leslie Hope Leslie (1827), J. F. (1827), J. F. Cooper:Cooper: The Wept of Wish-Ton-Wish The Wept of Wish-Ton-Wish (1829). (1829).

““The gender reversal makes the racial The gender reversal makes the racial mixing more ideologically charged; the mixing more ideologically charged; the white woman, icon of the racial purity of white woman, icon of the racial purity of the nation, had to remain closed to the nation, had to remain closed to penetration by ‘dark savages’ if the white penetration by ‘dark savages’ if the white identity of the country was to be identity of the country was to be preserved (Faery 179).” preserved (Faery 179).”

patternpattern: unfolding narrative of abduction (separation), detention/ : unfolding narrative of abduction (separation), detention/ adoption, return—essential structuring device of narrativesadoption, return—essential structuring device of narratives

SEPARATIONSEPARATION (abduction) (abduction)TRASFORMATIONTRASFORMATION (ordeal, accommodation, adoption) (ordeal, accommodation, adoption)-separation from one’s culture= symbolic death, rebirth= symbolic -separation from one’s culture= symbolic death, rebirth= symbolic

rebirthrebirth- often adopted in the stead of a lost family member- often adopted in the stead of a lost family member- transformation process: - transformation process: 1. 1. ritual initiation ordealritual initiation ordeal (e.g. run the gauntlet) (e.g. run the gauntlet)2. 2. gradual accommodationgradual accommodation of Indian modes and customs (e.g. of Indian modes and customs (e.g.

food, firstly disgust of the “filthy trash” in M. Rowladson’s words, food, firstly disgust of the “filthy trash” in M. Rowladson’s words, and then partial compromise of hunger, finally full accommodation and then partial compromise of hunger, finally full accommodation of Indian diet)of Indian diet)

3. highly 3. highly ritualized adoptionritualized adoption into new culture (554) into new culture (554)““Deepest immersion into the alien culture (558)”, symbolic adoption Deepest immersion into the alien culture (558)”, symbolic adoption

to the tribe, complete for mostly those taken at an early age, e.g. to the tribe, complete for mostly those taken at an early age, e.g. first: Anne Hutchinson’s daughter, John Williams’s daughter, first: Anne Hutchinson’s daughter, John Williams’s daughter, Eunice, John Slover, Frances Slocum even concealed her white id Eunice, John Slover, Frances Slocum even concealed her white id so as not to be taken back by ex-family. When finally discovered so as not to be taken back by ex-family. When finally discovered by sister and brothers, she said: “I cannot….I am an old tree….I by sister and brothers, she said: “I cannot….I am an old tree….I was a sapling when they took me away. It is all gone past.”was a sapling when they took me away. It is all gone past.”

RETURNRETURN (escape, release, redemption) (escape, release, redemption)

The WhiteThe White

29 editions of Mary Jemison’s captivity. Deborah 29 editions of Mary Jemison’s captivity. Deborah Larsen’s novel appeared in 2003.Larsen’s novel appeared in 2003.

SumSum: The story of “16-year-old Mary Jemison, : The story of “16-year-old Mary Jemison, daughter of Irish immigrants living on the daughter of Irish immigrants living on the dangerous edge of the Pennsylvania frontier in dangerous edge of the Pennsylvania frontier in 1758, the period of the French and Indian War. 1758, the period of the French and Indian War. Captured along with her entire family and few Captured along with her entire family and few neighbors by a raiding party of Shawnees and neighbors by a raiding party of Shawnees and French mercenaries, Mary saw her kin and kind French mercenaries, Mary saw her kin and kind scalped and murdered and found herself soon scalped and murdered and found herself soon thereafter adopted into a family of Senecas. thereafter adopted into a family of Senecas. Mary/ Two Falling Voices lived for 50 years as a Mary/ Two Falling Voices lived for 50 years as a member of the tribe, marrying twice, raising member of the tribe, marrying twice, raising seven children and at the end of her life allowing seven children and at the end of her life allowing herself to be interviewed by a New York state herself to be interviewed by a New York state physician and amateur historian, Jeames Seaver, physician and amateur historian, Jeames Seaver, who wrote down her account. who wrote down her account.

Genre:Genre:captivity accountcaptivity accountadventure taleadventure talelyrical meditation on a woman’s coming of lyrical meditation on a woman’s coming of

ageagefrontier romancefrontier romance(first written as a screenplay)(first written as a screenplay)““My novel is an invention, not a recreation,” My novel is an invention, not a recreation,”

Mary Jemison’s “voice was a gift, pure and Mary Jemison’s “voice was a gift, pure and simple. I just listened for the voice that simple. I just listened for the voice that wasn’t obviously there, for the voice that wasn’t obviously there, for the voice that lay between the lines in the narrative.” lay between the lines in the narrative.”

““How little of her lay on his pages. He had in How little of her lay on his pages. He had in no way captured her face (210).”no way captured her face (210).”

textual analysistextual analysis how shapeshifting and how shapeshifting and developing an in-between identity is developing an in-between identity is textually marked in textually marked in The WhiteThe White..

The 3 parts of the novel are named after 3 The 3 parts of the novel are named after 3 valleys, each notifying a stage of Mary-Two-valleys, each notifying a stage of Mary-Two-Falling-Voices’s character development: Falling-Voices’s character development: Buchanan Valley (-1758) = captivity and stage of Buchanan Valley (-1758) = captivity and stage of

ritual initiationritual initiationOhio Valley (1758-62) = gradual accommodationOhio Valley (1758-62) = gradual accommodationGenesse Valley (1762-1833) = adoption, no returnGenesse Valley (1762-1833) = adoption, no return

By the same token, these valleys refer to By the same token, these valleys refer to Two-Falling-Voinces’ credo: Two hillslopes, Two-Falling-Voinces’ credo: Two hillslopes, she is in between two cultures, with all the she is in between two cultures, with all the ups-and-downs of her life and identity ups-and-downs of her life and identity formulation in that context.formulation in that context.

As for our present interests, in Larsen’s As for our present interests, in Larsen’s The WhiteThe White, , three three psychoanalytical aspectspsychoanalytical aspects of the central of the central

character’s development are investigated here: in character’s development are investigated here: in accordance with the plot (accordance with the plot (actionaction), what kind of ), what kind of

challengeschallenges have to be faced by Mary/ Two-Falling- have to be faced by Mary/ Two-Falling-Voices; what sort of Voices; what sort of emotionsemotions does she present; does she present; and finally, what is their and finally, what is their impact impact on her way of on her way of

thinking and development (i.e. transcultural shape-thinking and development (i.e. transcultural shape-shifting). shifting).

1. ritual initiation1. ritual initiation actionaction challengeschallenges emotionsemotions impactimpact

2. gradual 2. gradual

accommodationaccommodation actionaction challengeschallenges emotionsemotions impactimpact

3.adoption + 3.adoption +

rrefusal to efusal to rreturneturn actionaction challengeschallenges emotionsemotions impactimpact

For example: For example: 1.1. ritual initiationritual initiationactionaction::

taken captive at the age of 16taken captive at the age of 16family scalped, murderedfamily scalped, murderedseparationseparationtaken away and adopted by Shawnee Indianstaken away and adopted by Shawnee Indians

challengeschallenges::experiencing violence, separation, alienation (physical and cultural)experiencing violence, separation, alienation (physical and cultural)language, customs different, little motivation to learn (hate, disgust, fear language, customs different, little motivation to learn (hate, disgust, fear

make her reject acculturation), almost all previous ties broken upmake her reject acculturation), almost all previous ties broken upemotions attachedemotions attached::shock, fear, “I want to die (18)”, vacuumshock, fear, “I want to die (18)”, vacuumnumbnumbaccuses her father of being over-optimistic (7), mentally abandoning his family accuses her father of being over-optimistic (7), mentally abandoning his family

(12)(12)impact impact on Mary’s character development:on Mary’s character development:wounded, pain, wordless, emotionally numbwounded, pain, wordless, emotionally numbexistential and philosophical confusion: “Where was God now (17)?” + wants existential and philosophical confusion: “Where was God now (17)?” + wants

to dieto dieIndian as generic term turning to a more specific knowledge still strong Indian as generic term turning to a more specific knowledge still strong

Christian imagery Christian imagery Perceives the loss of the last symbolic remnants of her family (shawl, scalps, Perceives the loss of the last symbolic remnants of her family (shawl, scalps,

cake) Only thing for sure: “fields are just themselves (8)”cake) Only thing for sure: “fields are just themselves (8)”English language and the ScriptureEnglish language and the Scriptureidentity sustained identity sustained

2.2. gradual accommodationgradual accommodation

“ “She did that which Branch told her to do; She did that which Branch told her to do; she took all of Slight-Wing’s suggestions. she took all of Slight-Wing’s suggestions. The sisters looked for signs of at least The sisters looked for signs of at least momentary happiness in Two-Falling-momentary happiness in Two-Falling-VoicesVoices; they looked for frowns, for the ; they looked for frowns, for the softening of the eyes that comes with softening of the eyes that comes with wonder; they looked for rapid breathing, an wonder; they looked for rapid breathing, an impatient movement of the hands. Thy impatient movement of the hands. Thy looked in vain. looked in vain. She was almost completely She was almost completely devoid of gesturedevoid of gesture. Her face was blank, her . Her face was blank, her voice was low and without inflection, she voice was low and without inflection, she answered questions with the shortest of answered questions with the shortest of phrases. They never saw her weep.”(40)phrases. They never saw her weep.”(40)

3. 3. adoption and refusal to returnadoption and refusal to returncleaning and shifting rituals (Branch asks for the cleaning and shifting rituals (Branch asks for the English word for ‘scalp’ (70) and Mary’s reaction English word for ‘scalp’ (70) and Mary’s reaction signifies a painful, dramatic outbreak of emotions: signifies a painful, dramatic outbreak of emotions: “In reply, Mary wound a strand of her own hair “In reply, Mary wound a strand of her own hair around and around her hand. Then she jerked that around and around her hand. Then she jerked that length of hair suddenly and violently upward so that length of hair suddenly and violently upward so that she winced at her own action. she winced at her own action. ‘Scalped. Scalp’‘Scalped. Scalp’ she she said. And then she jerked the strand of hair upward said. And then she jerked the strand of hair upward once again and once again and the gesture was at once steely, the gesture was at once steely, accusatory, and full of acknowledgementaccusatory, and full of acknowledgement (71).” (71).”marital doubts and childbirth and death (internal marital doubts and childbirth and death (internal dialogue with her fetus (68): dialogue with her fetus (68): “Why did you allow my “Why did you allow my father to enter you? Answer me. Why did you allow father to enter you? Answer me. Why did you allow him? him? You allowed my father, you allowed a man You allowed my father, you allowed a man whose race tore you from your young womanhood whose race tore you from your young womanhood and from your valley, whose race held the dripping and from your valley, whose race held the dripping scalping knife above your mother’s head, your own scalping knife above your mother’s head, your own father’s head, the heads of your brothers and sistersfather’s head, the heads of your brothers and sisters—(68).”—(68).”

“ ’“ ’I was wrong, he [Black Coals] said. I only I was wrong, he [Black Coals] said. I only thought I was talking to a Seneca. Instead I’ve thought I was talking to a Seneca. Instead I’ve been talking to a white. You have not stood in the been talking to a white. You have not stood in the place of our dead brother after all. Inside yourself place of our dead brother after all. Inside yourself you stubbornly resist our ways.’ you stubbornly resist our ways.’ ‘‘Whose ways? Yours? Your mother’s? The old Whose ways? Yours? Your mother’s? The old chief’s? chief’s? I I am whiteam white-”-”‘‘That is clear:’That is clear:’‘‘And I am Seneca. And I am a woman. What And I am Seneca. And I am a woman. What happened to the idea for which we are known happened to the idea for which we are known herehere - - that our men and women are good that our men and women are good partners. Why does a woman rejoice when she partners. Why does a woman rejoice when she finds it is the Seneca who have taken he a finds it is the Seneca who have taken he a prisoner? (116)”prisoner? (116)”……..„„My brother, let me make the few decisions in my My brother, let me make the few decisions in my power about my own life and death, about on power about my own life and death, about on what lands I will roam (117).”what lands I will roam (117).”

Psychoanalitical approach focuses on:Psychoanalitical approach focuses on:

- what is repressed in our culture (176), - what is repressed in our culture (176), - the discourse of power (general and specific),- the discourse of power (general and specific),- the convergence and divergence of desires,- the convergence and divergence of desires,- the force of history affecting the participants in both the - the force of history affecting the participants in both the

psychoanalytic and literary situation (178),psychoanalytic and literary situation (178),- the relationship between unconscious and social order,- the relationship between unconscious and social order,- the discourse of sexuality and power (‘will to power’) with - the discourse of sexuality and power (‘will to power’) with

regards to the discourse of history (Foucault),regards to the discourse of history (Foucault),- linguistic practices that generate socio-cultural activity - linguistic practices that generate socio-cultural activity

(mostly unconsciously),(mostly unconsciously),- the very nature of repression (by revealing the unconscious - the very nature of repression (by revealing the unconscious

element),element),- sexuality as a strategy of power and knowledge at a - sexuality as a strategy of power and knowledge at a

particular moment of history (Freud),particular moment of history (Freud),- “The oedipal prohibitions are very means by which desire is - “The oedipal prohibitions are very means by which desire is

channeled towards the prohibited (162).” (Deluze and channeled towards the prohibited (162).” (Deluze and Guattari)Guattari)

- Desire rooted in lack (Freud) (163)- Desire rooted in lack (Freud) (163)

Definitions of the unconscious:Definitions of the unconscious:

= part which escapes the sign system= part which escapes the sign system= Pre-linguistic experience (163)(= Pre-linguistic experience (163)(Lacan: unconscious does not exist Lacan: unconscious does not exist

before language)before language)= internalized set of power-relations (Freud) (164)= internalized set of power-relations (Freud) (164)= result of repression in the nuclear family= result of repression in the nuclear family

(Deluze and Guattari(Deluze and Guattari))

MultiplicityMultiplicity flowingflowingpartial objectspartial objectsfragmented experiencesfragmented experiencesmemorymemoryfeelingsfeelings

unifying processesunifying processes(e.g. search for order, similarity, wholeness, “assuming identity and (e.g. search for order, similarity, wholeness, “assuming identity and

completeness of objects and selves within conforming constraints completeness of objects and selves within conforming constraints and recognized limits (164).” )and recognized limits (164).” )

1. schizophrenic pole (transform identity, shifting boundaries)1. schizophrenic pole (transform identity, shifting boundaries)2. paranoiac pole (pressed to territorialize, mark out, take possession 2. paranoiac pole (pressed to territorialize, mark out, take possession

of)of)

““And so, in 1797, Mary, known to her And so, in 1797, Mary, known to her French captors as French captors as l’autrel’autre, known to , known to the Seneca as Two-Falling-Voices, the Seneca as Two-Falling-Voices, known to her first husband as Two, known to her first husband as Two, known to her second husband as known to her second husband as Two-Falling; known to her white Two-Falling; known to her white neighbors as Mary; known to her neighbors as Mary; known to her white solicitor as Mrs. Jemison; white solicitor as Mrs. Jemison; known to her children as Mother; known to her children as Mother; came to own land: more than ten came to own land: more than ten thousand acres.” (The White 178)thousand acres.” (The White 178)

““The benefit [of being biracial] to my mind is that The benefit [of being biracial] to my mind is that when you meet people, they can’t immediately when you meet people, they can’t immediately pigeonhole you. Therefore, when I meet a person, pigeonhole you. Therefore, when I meet a person, clearly they notice that I am not White but they don’t clearly they notice that I am not White but they don’t identify me as a Black. And that confuses them. And identify me as a Black. And that confuses them. And probably if they are going to be dealing with me on an probably if they are going to be dealing with me on an ongoing basis, it’s going to enter their minds…. [Not ongoing basis, it’s going to enter their minds…. [Not being able to pigeonhole me] forces people to being able to pigeonhole me] forces people to approach me as an individual first until they can figure approach me as an individual first until they can figure out who I am eventually… Anyway that’s an asset [not out who I am eventually… Anyway that’s an asset [not being pigeonholed]. And by the same token, that’s one being pigeonholed]. And by the same token, that’s one of the drawbacks of being biracial, because when I see of the drawbacks of being biracial, because when I see a Black person, I’m not immediately identified as being a Black person, I’m not immediately identified as being Black…When I see Black people, especially here in this Black…When I see Black people, especially here in this town, I want to run up to them and say “Hey! Guess town, I want to run up to them and say “Hey! Guess what, I know you don’t realize it, but I’m Black too, you what, I know you don’t realize it, but I’m Black too, you can talk to me.”…So that’s a drawback—you feel like can talk to me.”…So that’s a drawback—you feel like people that you do identify with don’t necessarily people that you do identify with don’t necessarily immediately identify with you.” immediately identify with you.” (man born in 1965, (man born in 1965, self-id: Afro-Am, father: Afro-Am, mother: Asian self-id: Afro-Am, father: Afro-Am, mother: Asian Japanese)Japanese)

KEY NOTIONS:KEY NOTIONS:titudinal and behavioral identification in general titudinal and behavioral identification in general process of transculturationprocess of transculturationat“better dead than living with an Indian.”at“better dead than living with an Indian.”Noble Savage Cooperian sentimentalism Noble Savage Cooperian sentimentalism naturalistic details of savagery naturalistic details of savagery challenge to cultural coding (R. McDougall) and received notions of racechallenge to cultural coding (R. McDougall) and received notions of raceacculturationacculturationformer identity is eventually erasedformer identity is eventually erasedtemporary numbnesstemporary numbnessprevious cultural identifications are overwritten by Native cultureprevious cultural identifications are overwritten by Native cultureracial absorptionracial absorptionelaborate alternative modes of beingelaborate alternative modes of beingconversionconversionsocial strategy of survivalsocial strategy of survival““alternative subculture available for inspection, testing, and at least temporary affiliation (Clifton 277).”alternative subculture available for inspection, testing, and at least temporary affiliation (Clifton 277).”‘‘white Indian’white Indian’appropriationappropriationtransculturationtransculturationmétissagemétissage ““ambivalent hybrid identities continuously in a flux (Vautier 270).”ambivalent hybrid identities continuously in a flux (Vautier 270).”‘‘side-by-sideness’side-by-sideness’‘‘culture brokers’, liaison persons, biracial shape shiftersculture brokers’, liaison persons, biracial shape shiftersbelonging, contributing, socializingbelonging, contributing, socializinganomaliesanomaliesinternalized self-imageinternalized self-imagestate of shipwreckstate of shipwreck““extremity of colonial alienation (Bhabha 114)” extremity of colonial alienation (Bhabha 114)” ‘‘white nigger’white nigger’OthernessOthernessrefusing to returnrefusing to returndeferencedeferenceprestigeprestigeracial self-identification and affirmation racial self-identification and affirmation blurred racial linesblurred racial lines

““The benefit [of being biracial] to my mind is that The benefit [of being biracial] to my mind is that when you meet people, they can’t immediately when you meet people, they can’t immediately pigeonhole youpigeonhole you. Therefore, when I meet a person, . Therefore, when I meet a person, clearly they notice that I am not White but they clearly they notice that I am not White but they don’t identify me as a Black. And that confuses don’t identify me as a Black. And that confuses them. And probably if they are going to be dealing them. And probably if they are going to be dealing with me on an ongoing basis, it’s going to enter with me on an ongoing basis, it’s going to enter their minds…. their minds…. [Not being able to pigeonhole me] [Not being able to pigeonhole me] forces people to approach me as an individual first forces people to approach me as an individual first until they can figure out who I am eventually… until they can figure out who I am eventually… Anyway that’s an assetAnyway that’s an asset [not being pigeonholed]. [not being pigeonholed]. And by the same token, that’s one of the And by the same token, that’s one of the drawbacks of being biracialdrawbacks of being biracial, because when I see a , because when I see a Black person, I’m not immediately identified as Black person, I’m not immediately identified as being Black…When I see Black people, especially being Black…When I see Black people, especially here in this town, I want to run up to them and say here in this town, I want to run up to them and say “Hey! Guess what, I know you don’t realize it, but “Hey! Guess what, I know you don’t realize it, but I’m Black too, you can talk to me.”…So that’s a I’m Black too, you can talk to me.”…So that’s a drawback—you feel like people that you do identify drawback—you feel like people that you do identify with don’t necessarily immediately identify with with don’t necessarily immediately identify with youyou.” (man born in 1965, self-id: Afro-Am, father: .” (man born in 1965, self-id: Afro-Am, father: Afro-Am, mother: Asian Japanese) Afro-Am, mother: Asian Japanese)

Thanks for Your attention.Thanks for Your attention.

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