Elijah and Xavier both went to residential schools as children. Elijah unlike Xavier adapted to the environment very well. The nuns taught Elijah English which he caught on to very quickly. They eventually regretted this decision due to the fact that he caught on very quickly and he learnt to twist their words around on them. We see this same "adaption" to environment in war. Elijah quickly learns the traits of a solider and begins story telling around the campfire with the others, socializing and mingling. He over exaggerated story's and strayed from the truth but he noticed that, that was what caught the men's attention so he kept on. This is a trait that kept Elijah alive in war. He learnt to fit into wherever he was. Xavier on the other hand was very poor at English and due to this huge language barrier he did not fit in as well as Elijah. Also Xavier dose not like the white man and their customs a beliefs. I believe these are very important character traits to both Elijah and Xavier and have a lot to do with the way they act in everyday life and war . What would it of been like if the boys did not go to residential schools? Would these traits still shine through them? In war and life?
I believe that you can see the difference in the character Elijah and Xavier and their social interaction in the group and i would say that them going to residential schools affected that. If you look at Elijah he can better communicate and relate to the other men where as Xavier cant keep a conversation nor does he want too. That I find interesting as I would think due to the condition we hear about how these children were treated in the residential schools that Elijah would sooner rather isolate himself from those people and not want to associate anything with their culture. Where Xavier who was in a school for a short time displays those actions toward the men saying himself how he refuses to learn. I don't know how much this effects their character but would say there's contribution.
ReplyDeleteI believe that you can see the difference in the character Elijah and Xavier and their social interaction in the group and i would say that them going to residential schools affected that. If you look at Elijah he can better communicate and relate to the other men where as Xavier cant keep a conversation nor does he want too. That I find interesting as I would think due to the condition we hear about how these children were treated in the residential schools that Elijah would sooner rather isolate himself from those people and not want to associate anything with their culture. Where Xavier who was in a school for a short time displays those actions toward the men saying himself how he refuses to learn. I don't know how much this effects their character but would say there's contribution.
ReplyDeleteI believe that the residential schools did benefit them in preparation for the war. I think their traits as in quick learning and refusing to adapt to another culture would still be present even without the residential schools because that is who they are as a person.
ReplyDeleteI believe that the residential schools did benefit them in preparation for the war. I think their traits as in quick learning and refusing to adapt to another culture would still be present even without the residential schools because that is who they are as a person.
ReplyDelete