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Louise Erdrich's The Last Report On The Miracles At Little No Horse

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Renowned author, Louise Erdrich, seamlessly portrays the duality of her characters as well as their struggles with identity in her novel, The Last Report on the Miracles at Little No Horse. By doing so, she creates a relatable story that connects with her readers, which therefore allows for a total immersion into the story as her characters are so strongly developed.
These unique identities of Erdrich’s characters seem to live within them like a natural portion of their existence. For example, even a minor character like Arnold “The Actor” Anderson depicts a double-edged personality as he is described to have a captivating air about him, yet he is a callous killer. Next, the dichotomy seen through Sister Leopolda is much more intense and multifaceted than say of Nanapush or Mary Kashpaw. Sister Leopolda, also …show more content…

As Father Damien comes to the conclusion that Gregory must leave, she tells him, "I cannot leave who I am," to which Wekkle responds, "You are a woman" (p. 206). This quote is significant due to the fact that Father Wekkle’s unjustly description does not compare to the magnitude of Modeste's presence on the reservation at Little No Horse. The affair between the two characters creates a turning point for Agnes, as she must choose between the two identities that coincide within her. Moreover, if she were to run off with Father Wekkle, then Agnes could never fulfill her strangely liberating calling to be a priest. Agnes then discovers that the only possible way for her to maintain both identities is through her piano playing. Her music allows a more individualistic and personal expression of herself. Although she does know that she is not solely a priest, Agnes voices her frustration as Erdrich writes, "I am a priest. This is what I do", yet she looks at Father Wekkle "with her heart tearing, helpless against the simplest truth" (p.

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