Nicholas Barrero-Pinzon
English 11
25 April 2019
Mr. Barazzuol
The Stranger: A Dark Period in Canadian History
Poems such as, “The Stranger,” by Gord Downie help reveal the dark periods of Canadian history by focusing more on viewpoints and emotions, rather than just the facts. By doing so, the reader can understand the effects on the first nations.
The poem shows the emotions that stem from the abuse received at residential schools. The reader can sense the fear the speaker feels, refusing to stop, as he may get caught and he may be further abused for running away. He feels alone as not a lot of people would understand his current situation. No one who hasn’t experienced what he has experienced will ever understand the pain and suffering he has gone through.
The poem shows what can be considered an accurate viewpoint that helps the reader understand what first nation children felt at the time. The speaker has been made to feel like a stranger in his own country, despite his family being Canadian natives. He feels as if though his pain and suffering is unseen by others. He believes no one understands how he feels and the journey he was gone through. He tries to disprove the stereotype that first nations are savages by saying his, “dad is not a wild [and] doesn’t even drink,” (Downie).
By showing emotions and viewpoints, instead of stating facts, the poet tells the reader more about the dark periods in history and the effects on those who experienced these events.
