Falling Victim to the Past
In the novel, Wild Geese, by Martha Ostenso, the members of the Gare household struggle immensely under the oppressiveness of Caleb Gare, the father and Amelia Gare, the mother. The children of the Gare family face many obstacles, such as lack of voice, lack of control, and limited possibilities. Although Ostenso's Wild Geese is an award winning piece of literature, much of the novels significance and power has been lost over time. The control Caleb and Amelia have over their children is vividly realistic but is portrayed in completely different ways; Caleb through his greed and need for control and Amelia's desire to conceal her past. During the 1920's, the time which the novel was written, children had very few rights. A child was seen as property of the family. Children were to be seen but not heard and were to always be obedient. This is definitely the case in the Gare household. This lack of children's rights is further compounded by the isolation of the Gare's farming community in rural Manitoba. Policing would not have been prevalent in the immediate area, especially when it came to household affairs. Although this sort of treatment still exists in some homes, in general, our sense of what a family's responsibi
This is prominent in the Gare family. He firmly believed that knowledge of Amelia's shame would keep the children indefinitely to the land, and knew that he would not hesitate to reveal the truth to Mark Jordan if he were compelled to do so. His control over her, being one of the brain only, although it achieved his ends, also at moments galled him with the reminder that the spirit of her had ever eluded him. If this was to be Ellen's part of the cost, let her pay it. This need to protect her son causes her to mistreat her other children and therefore enhances Caleb's cruelty and hold over them all. The captivity within the Gare family is slowly destroying them all. Releasing her hold over her children ensures the release of Caleb's as well. " (223) Amelia's secret enraged Caleb but gives him the control he desires over her and instils a deep hatred for him in her and reciprocally for the children that carry his name. The Gare family, with whom Lind boards, is ruled and manipulated by the cruel Caleb and Amelia Gare. Ostenso brilliantly portrays this evolution of the times with the character Lind Archer and her relationships with the Gare's and Mark Jordan. As a result, Caleb and Amelia's children do exactly what Caleb desires, but often resent the other for their actions. Today, in the year 2002, pregnancy out of wedlock is much more socially accepted and is therefore possible for a woman to raise her child and not be seen as a disgrace or fallen woman.
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Acceptance Essays
