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| Chief Seattle's Speech |
Extract I
(i). Who speaks these words? Give the meaning of:
“Yonder sky that has wept tears of compassion upon my people for centuries
untold.”
Ans. These are words are spoken by Chief Seattle. He says that nature
has sympathised with his people for many years.
(ii). Why does the speaker say “ tomorrow it may be overcast with
clouds”?
Ans. Chief Seattle means that things are fine at present. However, the
scenario will change in the future as the Great Chief in Washington wishes to
buy their land with words of feigned ‘goodwill and friendship.’
(iii). Who is the ‘Great Chief at Washington’? What has the Great Chief done
to Seattle and his people?
Ans. George Washington, the first President of the United States of
America, is the Great Chief at Washington. The Great Chief at Washington
wishes to buy the land of the Native Americans with words of feigned ‘goodwill
and friendship.’
(iv). How much are Seattle’s words reliable as far as the Great Chief is
concerned?
Ans. Seattle’s words are like the stars that never change. The Great
Chief at Washington can rely upon with as much certainty as he can upon the
return of the sun or the seasons.
(v). Briefly state the reaction of Chief Seattle to the greetings sent by
the Big Chief at Washington?
Ans. The Great Chief sends Chief Seattle and his people to words of
goodwill and friendship. Seattle feels that he is in little need of their help
and their friendship, as his people are strong and powerful as compared to the
natives.
Extract II
(i). Compare the number of Chief Seattle’s people with that of the White
Chief. How does the narrator illustrate this act?
Ans. His people are few they resemble the scattering trees of a
storm-swept plain. Seattle says that there was a time when his people were
large in number now they are nothing more than a mournful memory. He compares
the Whites to the grass that covers the vast prairies, large in number.
(ii). What message does the White Chief send to the native people?
Ans. The White Chief informs to the native American that they should
get ready for the land settlement treaty. This deal was between the US
government and Native American tribe. According to the treaty, the Native
Americans should surrender their land to the whites and move farther from
their ancestors’ land.
(iii). A little later, how does Seattle describe that his people were
numerous once upon a time?
Ans. He says that once the Native Americans covered the land as the
waves of a wind-ruffled sea cover its shell-paved floor.
(iv). State the message sent by the White Chief to the native people. What
is the reaction of Chief Seattle to the message?
Ans. The White Chief wishes to buy the land of the Native Americans.
Seattle says that the proposition seems to be just, kind and generous the
Redman no longer has rights. The offer appears to be wise since the Native
Americans are less in number and don’t require a vast territory.
(v). What happened when the White man began to push the natives westward?
Should the native people take revenge on the White men? Why?
Ans. The young person is arrogant in time of war turned violent and
indulged in revengeful acts when the white men pushed the westward. There is
no use in taking revenge on the White men because they are large in number as
well as more powerful. In times of war, they even lose their own lives, but
the family that wants for them at home bears the loss.
Extract III
(i). Who is referred to as our father in Washington? Since when he has
become ‘our father and your father’?
Ans. George Washington is referred to as father in Washington. Since
King George has moved his boundaries further north, he has become the father
of the Native Americans.
(ii). Under what condition is the good father going to protect the native
people? What is meant by ‘bristling wall of strength’?
Ans. If the Native Americans surrender or sell their land to the White
settlers, he will protect them from foreign enemies like Haidas and
Tsimshians. Bristling wall of strength is referred to the vigorous and
energetic white people’s brave men who will provide the strength and will
protect them from their ancient enemies.
(iii). Who are Haidas and Tsimshians? How they will cease to frighten the
natives?
Ans. They were the two tribes who were the enemies of Native Americans.
The White Chief’s brave men will provide the native's and his ship would fill
their harbours so that Hidas and Tsimshians cease to frighten the natives.
(iv). How does Chief Seattle prove that the White man’s God is not the God
of the natives?
Ans. The God of the White man loves his people and hates Seattle’s
people. He protects them lovingly and leads them like a father leads his
infant son. But he has forsaken Seattle and his people.
(v) A little earlier, chief Seattle exclaims that"youth is impulsive." Why
does he say that? What does it reflect about is character?
Ans. Youth is impulsive because they grow angry at real or
imaginary and they often become cruel and relatedness. Seattle discourages
such kind of behaviour from the youth and it indicates his love for peace and
friendly relationship. He is against war and he does not glorify war but
condemns it.
Extract IV
(i). Who is referred to as the God of the natives? Why does he seem to have
forgotten them?
Ans. The Great Spirit is referred to as the God of the natives. The
Great Spirit has forgotten his people because the Suquamish tribe has almost
become extinct and their number is declining rapidly. The Great Spirit is no
longer a father figure to them; “they seem to be orphans who can look nowhere
for help.”
(ii). Why are the natives compared to the receding tide and are called
orphans?
Ans. Their population is rapidly reducing and they have almost become
extinct. They are called orphans because their God, the Great Spirit has
forgotten them.
(iii). why does the Chief say ‘that if there was a common father for both
races, he must be partial?
Ans. Because he came to the help of his paleface children and never
came to the help of Red Man. He gave them laws to be followed but none to his
Red children. They have a separate origin and separate destinies. He makes the
White people stronger every day but does nothing for the well being of the
natives.
(iv). How does the speech of the Chief show that his people were
oppressed?
Ans. The Whites unjustly exercising authority over the Native
Americans. It is the natives’ land that the Big Chief in Washington ‘wishes’
to buy but ‘wish’ is a word sarcastically used by Chief Seattle. The Whites
are so powerful in terms of their army and navy that the Red Indians need to
bow down. Chief Seattle says that Whites are willing to allow them enough land
to live comfortably which is symbolic of their master-slave relationship.
(v). Finally, the Chief says ‘We are two distinct races with separate
origins and separate destinies.’ Give examples to prove this statement.
Ans. The natives’ origin is the American land that is being contested;
the Whites originally belonged to Europe who came and colonized these native
Americans. Their destinies are different-the natives are receding every day
while the Whites are like the grass that covers vast prairies.
Extract V
(i) What was the Red Man’s religion?
Ans. Red Man's religion is the traditions of their ancestors-the dreams
of their old men, given them in solemn hours of the night by the Great Spirit;
and the visions of their sachems, and is written in the hearts of their
people.
(ii). How can you conclude that the natives are more dependent on their
ancestors than the White men?
Ans. Seattle says that the ashes of his ancestors are sacred and their
resting place is hallowed ground. They love to stay in the land where their
ancestors’ memories are alive. Whereas the Whites wander far from their
ancestors’ graves. The Whites once they are dead, forget their native land and
never return. The dead of the Red men will never forget their native land and
year to visit this beautiful land.
(iii) What does Seattle say about Christianity?
Ans. Chief Seattle says that the God of Christianity talked to the men
like friends. They were away from their ancestors and their origin and
wandered all around the world.
(iv) Give three points of distinction of between the religion of the White
man and that of the Red man.
Ans. The religion of the Red Man is the traditions of their
ancestors-the dreams of their old men, given them in solemn hours of the night
by the Great Spirit; and the visions of their sachems, and is written in the
hearts of their people. The White men followed Christianity and it was written
by the iron finger of their God, symbolising strict adherence to rules and
principles. The God of this religion is partial and has forsaken His Red
children. Seattle says that this God loves only his paleface children and not
the natives.
(v). Give the meaning of :
Ans:
a) Tablet of stone: It means that something on a hard surface in a
written form.
b) Iron finger: Biblical phrase which means Finger of God.
Extract VI
(i) Why do the dead of the White men cease to love their land and their
people?
Ans. This is because they never connect with their land their people
spiritually. Their relationship with their land and their people is not sacred
or holy; it is materialistic. As soon as they die, the link to their earthly
life breaks and devoid of spiritualism they are incapable of an
afterlife.
(ii) On the other hand, what do the dead of the Red man do to their
living?
Ans. The dead of the Red man never forgets this beautiful world that
gave them being. They still love its verdant valleys, its murmuring rivers,
its magnificent mountains, sequestered valleys and verdant lined lakes and
bays, and even yearn intender fond affection over the lonely-hearted living,
and often return from the happy hunting ground to visit, guide, console and
comfort them.
(iii) What propels was put forward to the Red man by the Great Chief?
Ans. The Red men should surrender their native land to the Whites. In
return of this, the Whites will protect them foreign attack from the Haidas
and Tsimshians. The Whites are willing to allow them to enough land to live
comfortably.
(iv) What is the impact of the proposal on the Red man and the White
man?
Ans. The Native Americans will have to leave their native land where
their ancestors are resting in eternal peace. They lose their land which is
full of memories. The land that they have been asked to sell is sacred for
them. The Whites unjustly exercising authority over them. The Whites are
powerful in terms of their army and navy that the Red Indians need to bow
down. The Whites are willing to allow them enough land to live comfortably
which is symbolic of their master-slave relationship.
(v) What role do the dead Red men play for the living? How do the dead Red
men show that they are an intimate part of nature?
Ans. The Native Americans would be transported to a reality beyond what
is felt by the senses. The ‘shores’, ‘the pathless woods’, ‘the field’ would
never be empty of their spirits. This land will make them eternal. “In all the
earth there is no place dedicated to solitude,’ and hence they will be a part
of land forever. Their spirits would still love ‘this beautiful land’ and its
‘magnificent mountains’ and ‘sequestered vales.’ Their death here would not be
death but only a gateway to the eternal world.
Extract VII
(i) How has the Chief shown earlier that he is not happy about the fate of
his people?
Ans. He feels as if not a single star of hope hovers above the natives’
horizon. The winds moan and grim fate follow them. Their situation is similar
to a wounded doe that is being hunted down. Moreover, he feels that in a few
more years, their race will disappear. This is how he reflects his unhappiness
about the fate of his people.
(ii) How is the order of nature referred to by the Chief? How does he hint
that justice will be done at the end?
Ans. Every person, tribe, or culture that is risen to great glory would
definitely meet its fall one day and that would surely be the day of justice.
Seattle believes that time will come when the Whites would also be moving
towards their inevitable doom.
(iii) What is referred to: the "White man’s God who walked and talked with
him?"
Ans. This is a reference to the Biblical God and his ten commandments
that always supported and guided the White men.
iv) Give the meaning and significance of:
‘We may be brothers after all.’
Ans. Seattle believes that White settlers too will have their decay one
day. It would be then that the White men and Red men would share a common
destiny. They would be brothers only when the Whites would be able to
empathise the Red men.
v) What could be the common destiny of man? Give the hints given in the
extract to show that the Chief foresees the unity of all human beings?
Ans. The common destiny of man is that his decay is inevitable and will be
salvation. It is through the White man’s decay the Seattle foresees the unity
of all beings. He says: ‘we may be brothers after all. We will see.’
Extract VIII
(i) Explain why there is "no place dedicated to solitude".
Ans. This is because even after the last native has perished ‘shores
will swarm with the invisible dead’ of Seattle’s tribe. The natives’ love for
their land makes them immortal. Thus, Whites will never be alone.
(ii). When do the shadowy spirits visit the places?
Ans. The shadowy spirits visit the places at nights when the streets of
the Whites’ cities are silent and it is falsely believed that they are
deserted.
(iii). When would the memory of the tribe be a myth among the White men?
Ans. The memory of the tribe would become a myth among the White men
when the last Red man shall have perished from the natives’ land, but this
would be momentary as it would the ‘swarm with the invisible dead of the
tribe.’
(iv). What is the attitude of the dead towards the objects of nature?
Ans. Native Americans even after death don’t forget the world that gave
them their being and identity. They keep on loving its valleys, its rivers,
its magnificent mountains, and its lakes. The dead feel one with nature and
its surroundings.
(v). Explain how does the speech of the Chief reflect upon the theme of
changing human life to another form.
Ans. The Native Americans would be transported to a reality beyond what
is felt by the senses. The ‘shores’, ‘the pathless woods’, ‘the field’ would
never be empty of their spirits. This land will make them eternal. “In all the
earth there is no place dedicated to solitude,’ and hence they will be a part
of land forever. Their spirits would still love ‘this beautiful land’ and its
‘magnificent mountains’ and ‘sequestered vales.’ Their death here would not be
death but only a gateway to the eternal world. They will only change their
world and hence will become immortal. He ends his speech with the assertion
that ‘there is no death, only a change of worlds.’
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