Theme of Crow Testament
Theme of Crow Testament
The Crow in the poem is a multiple symbol which may stand for the Native American Gods or for the Christianity which the whites do not claim as their own. It is also speculated that the crow stands for a Native American citizen whose hardships in the hands of the white people beggar description. The crow symbolizes weapon with which Cain kills his brother, Abel, who was as innocent and pure as anything and Godfaring. This is the first act of fratricide and also the first act of the spilling of the human blood. And since then till today there is no end to the blood- letting, and perpetrating genocide.
The whites are described here as falcon which swoops on its prey and which carries the victim in its talons, kill it, tear it to pieces and eats its flesh. Comparing the white Americans to the falcons, predatory birds, the poet draws our attention to the beginnings of the history of white settlement in America and history of the,native Americans who were robbed of their resources by whites. The natives here are soon disposed of their pasture land. The white settlers become the masters and dominate over the native Americans, and exploit them. The theft committed by the falcon is a clear testament to the endless harm done to Native Americans. The Native American ruminates that if he knew swimming, he could have let himself be taken out to sea and away from the persecution meted out to them.
and with the exception of two, the Israelites massacred every man and woman and every child like maniacs. The perpetration of such crimes has never been plummeted down and is continuing sine die. Oblivious to the fact 'that people kill their own when they are killing other people'. The continuous conflicts between Israel and Palestine reminds one of the battle for Promised Land leading to blood-bath. The poet Alexie draws a large arc of genocide and conflict as he connects the Native American experience with that of the victims of the holocaust or the continuing conflict in Gaza.
In the sixth section of the Crow Testament Alexie says the suffering of the Native Americans have been intensified and have appeared in various forms. The natives make a search for empty beer bottles, collect them and earn a little by selling them. They are alcoholic and suffer from alcoholism, a kind of disease and battle through poverty.
In the final stanza of Crow Testament the rider of the pale horse signifies death. But when the news of the impending death is brought to them in a gathering where native Americans meet to honour their ancestors and celibrate their culture they appear to be less perturbed.
It dawns on the poet that-
they have been living out the end of their world.