Impressions of An Indian Childhood

Text: Zitkala Sa's "Impressions of An Indian Childhood pgs. 1006-1019

While reading Zitkala Sa's "Impressions of An Indian Childhood" I began picking up on some general themes that are presented throughout the text. I thought there was a big theme of freedom being developed as well as a big theme on the importance of family and tradition. From the very beginning Sa's mother expresses her deep hatred for the "paleface" or the white man; this is important in seeing how Sa was brought up to view the white man. Zitkala Sa was brought up to hate the white man, however, at the same time we see Sa's mother have relationships with white men and Zitkala Sa is in fact half white. So there is quite a contradiction when it comes to what her mother says and what Zitkala sees her doing. I thought that was very interesting.

I was rather surprised when Zitkala Sa's mother allowed her to go to the East and travel away from home like she did. It's obvious throughout the story that Sa looked up to her mother and that family was a big part of their everyday lives. However, Zitkala Sa's mother allows her to go regardless of what she thinks about the white man. I think her mother allows her to go because she realizes that Zitkala Sa is very curious about what is virtually unknown to her. I think that she realizes that if she doesn't let Zitkala Sa go then she might lose her.

Freedom is another big theme throughout the text. It seems to me that Zitkala Sa cares a lot about freedom and is sometimes worried about losing it. Her mother talks about when their freedom was taken away and how they were forced to move to another place. So Zitkala Sa grows up with these stories of the freedom of her family members being stripped away from them and then having to grow up and realize that she's not so free herself. So I think that Zitkala Sa struggles with freedom and the fact that she wants it but sometimes feels as though freedom is too far out of reach for her.

I think this is a story about freedom, family and traditions, as well as a growing up story. A story about identity and about a girl trying to find herself. It's about a girl trying to find herself is a very confusing world. She's trying to find her own identity amongst all the people who already have an idea about who she is. She's trying to find her place in the world.