The short story “The Medicine Bag” by Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve and the video Apache Girl’s Rite of Passage by National Geographic have many differences and similarities to introduce the reader to Native American rites of passage. The most significant difference is that the short story emphasizes the emotional struggle of Martin, while the video shows the physical struggle of Dachina Cochise. This can be shown in the short story when it states, “’Thank you, Grandpa.’ I said softly...Two weeks later, I stood alone on the lonely prairie of the reservation and put the sacred sage in my medicine bag.”(Sneve 78, 79) In contrast, the video shows, “These four days mean little sleep, scant food, and the need to set aside emotion. Throughout the ordeal, she must wear a face of stoic resolve.”(National Geographic) At this point in the short story, Martin successfully receives and inherits the medicine bag from his Grandpa and goes to the reservation to put the sacred sage in the medicine bag, signifying that he is the new bearer. As shown from the video quote, Dachina Cochise is starting her trials, but she has to go with little food or sleep and keep a straight face the whole time. This proves that the type of journey they go through makes a big difference in the purpose and meaning of the story. Martin starts as embarrassed about his culture and the medicine bag because he is afraid his friends will make fun of him. Throughout the story, it emphasizes his emotional growth and he Medicine Bag The right of passage that is most significant to me is passing down tradition like the story the medicine bag. The medicine bag has an important rite of passage in the story because it’s saying that families have their traditions. In the story Martin gets the medicine bag that his grandfather passed along to him once he knew it was his time to go. His grandfather came a long way to give it to Martin. He showed Martin what to put in it and what to do once it’s in hi possession.
The medicine bag has the most significant rite of passage to me because passing down tradition is very important in my opinion. In the story the grandfather came to town to give his grandson the medicine bag. He is giving the medicine bag to Martin because because it’s tradition to pass it down to the oldest male child. In the story Martin’s grandfather said that once he knows it’s time that he is getting ready to die is when he must pass along the medicine bag. When Martin had to learn what to put in it his grandfather told him that he needs to replace the sage that is in it now and he needs to put iron in it. In the story Martin was talking to his grandfather about why he is getting the medicine bag instead of his father and his grandfather said “My son”,“ He went one after clearing his throat, ”had no sons, only one daughter, your mother. So the medicine bag must be passed on to you.”
I hope this will be hope full mark me as a brainliest
