Spirit the Question About What

¶ … Spirit

The question about what happens after death is unfortunately a question that no man will ever be able to have a secure answer for. It is the end of the human life, but many cultural traditions do have strong beliefs of a continuation beyond death. This is often a major theme within Native American cultural traditions, like the one depicted in Mean Spirit by Linda Hogan. Looking at one particular passage on page 203, it is clear that Lettie accepts death in that it is a natural progression of life, and therefore those who are left alive must move on.

One major theme of the book itself is the ideas that the living must grieve, but eventually move on from the death that surrounds them. It is a difficult thing to loose those that you love, but unfortunately, many within the Native American community suffered great losses. This theme is expressed within the passage at Benoit's funeral. Despite the death of loved one, Lettie still remains strong and handles the decision making involved with Benoit's death. She had to remain strong and plan the funeral, showing how those most affected by a death have to still move in a progressive manner. Lettie wanted to honor Benoit, because his soul was loved. The soul remains, but moves on just as the living do. Here, Hogan specifically states that "The coffin lid was opened and the mourners passed by, placing items inside for Benoit's long journey from one world to another," (Hogan 203). Mourners offered gifts to the dead in order to wish him a safe journey into the afterlife. Therefore, those left behind to mourn the dead should understand their loved ones have another world to look forward to. After all, it is the natural order of things. The natural world was still carrying on, therefore so must the human world. Hogan writes: "Lettie turned and watched them while the men unloaded the heavy casket she had selected," (Hogan 203). The deer signified the universe continuing despite Benoit's death. In this environment, there is then the idea of death as a journey; "A few deer passed silently behind the mourners. They were delicate, walking across the snow," (Hogan 203). The narration of the passage shows that Lettie is fully aware of this process, and even further, that she respects it. In fact, it seems to offer relief to Lettie. She knows that the order of the world had a new journey in store for Benoit. Here, there is the clear description of her being strengthened by the knowledge nature provides her; "They carried it to the hole in the earth and only when they put it down beside the hole did Lettie's gaze leave the deer," (Hogan 203). The understanding of the way of the world makes it just that much easier to deal with the death of a loved one.