37 can speak when the Reverend or the teachers ask them to. This quotation
describes the situation, “You are going to see the Reverend,” she said. “Be quiet,
don’t cry and be respectful. You can talk, but only when he asks a question
p.184.
There is a school in the orphanage to educate Indian children. The school gives the students learning considered good by White. The students should be
“nice” in class. They should speak politely. One day, the teacher showed the students a picture. She asked the students
to guest what the picture about. It was a picture of two deer. Little Tree raised his hand and said that those deer were mating. He also told the class that he could tell
what time in a year deer were mating. Hearing what Little Tree said, the teacher came to him and grabbed him by
the neck. She was very angry to him. Then, she brought Little Tree and reported the case to the Reverend. Little Tree got a cruel punishment from his speak up the
truth, the other version from his teacher. Little Tree got physical punishment. The Reverend hit him by a stick. The other punishment, he would not eat supper for a
week. He did not allow come to the class also. This following quotation proves one of punishment got by Little Tree. “He cut loose with the big stick acrost my
back. The first time it hurt; but I didn’t cry” p.191.
4.3. Little Tree’s Reactions against Colonial Education
Reading the novel, the researcher finds out some reactions of Little Tree against colonial Education. From the beginning, Little Tree has declared himself
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38 as a Cherokee. He learns all about Cherokee’s ways of life from his grandparents
and Willow John. He enjoys becoming a Cherokee. Unfortunately, one day, there are two people came to their cabin. One of
those people gives them a paper from government. Granma read the paper. The paper states that Granma and Granpa do not have right to keep Little Tree because
they are old. They have no proper education. Moreover, it is because Granma is an Indian and Granpa is a half-breed.
In other words, Little Tree should be put into an orphanage and educated as White. They are so shocked and sad because of this situation. It is true that they
have not been covered by law. The law in their state never stands for Cherokee. The government has established the law for White’s political interest.
From this situation, the researcher underlines the beginning reaction of Little Tree against colonial education.
I went to the table and set on Granpa’s leg. I told him and Granma I would not go with the law. I said I would go back in the mountains and stay with
Willow John, until such time as the law forgot about the whole thing. I asked Granma what an orphanage was. p.174
Little Tree rejects the law. He fights against the policy. From the above
quotation, Little Tree does not want to go to the orphanage. Little Tree states that he will go to the mountain and lives as Cherokee with Willow John to avoid the
law. Granma and Granpa try to rent a lawyer to keep Little Tree, but the lawyer
cannot do more because Granpa had a bad reputation in front of White. Granpa had ever been arrested for making whiskey, so that they will be lose in the court.
They have no choice, but accept the policy and send Little Tree to the orphanage.
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39 Before being put away by the white government, Little Tree tells Granma
and Granpa that he will come back to them soon. The following quotation shows the reaction of Little Tree in stating his willingness to be back to the mountain:
In my two sack, Granma had put two more shirts and my other pair of overalls, and my socks. I would not carry anything else, for I knew I
would be back. I told Granma I would. p.179
Little Tree is picked up by bus. Granpa accompanies him to get the bus. It is time for Little Tree to go to the orphanage. But, Little Tree once again tells
Granpa that he will be back as soon as possible. What he said to Granpa shows his reaction against the law. The quotation bellow describes his reaction:
As the bus passed on, I run to the back of the bus and look out the back winder. Granpa was still there, watching the bus. I waved and hollered,
”Good-bye, Granpa. I’l be back more than likely pretty quick.” He didn’t see me. I hollered some more. I’ll more than likely be back directly,
Granpa.” p.182 Little Tree is being put into an orphanage by the government. He meets the
Reverend who always tells White’s point of view about Indian. He tells Little Tree that Little Tree is born in evil because White does not admit the marriage of
his parents. It is illegal for White to marry an Indian. Based on this representation, White wants to civilize Indian through education and religion.
From the situation, the researcher finds out the reactions of Little Tree against the Reverend who stand for white. He claims White’s point of view about
his parents’ marital status was is true. He tries to explain and tell the Reverend the truth by Cherokee’s point of view.
I told him what Granma had said; that the Cherokees married my Pa and my Ma. He said what Cherokees done didn’t count none whatsoever. He
said he had not asked me a question. Which he hadn’t. p.185
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40 The orphanage is a strange environment for Little Tree. He is educated as
a White in the orphanage. All Indian children are supposed to be White. In other word, there is no Indian in this orphanage. This kind of situation makes Little Tree
depressed. Almost everyday, he gets cruel punishment from the Reverend and the teacher. The quotation bellow states the situation and the reactions of Little Tree
against the system: He cut loose with the big stick acrost my back. The first time it hurt; but I
didn’t cry. Granma had learnt me. Oncet when I stumped off my toenail... she learnt me how the Indian bears pain. He lets his body mind go to sleep,
and with his spirit mind, he moves out of his body and sees the pain- instead of feeling the pain. p.192
From the above quotation, the researcher is able to see the reaction of Little Tree. He fight against White by Cherokee’s way like what his Granma had
taught him in the mountain. The other part of the novel showing the reactions of Little Tree in his
fighting against colonial education can be seen in the following quotation: Wilbrun asked me what I was going to do when I growed up. I told him I
was going to be an Indian like Granpa and willw John and live in the mountains. Wilbrun said he was going to rob banks and orphanages. He
said he would rob churches too, if he could find out where they kept their money. He said, more than likely, he would kill everybody who run banks
and orphanages, but he would not kill me. p.189
From the above quotation, the researcher gets point about the true willingness of Little Tree. Once again, Little Tree declares himself as Cherokee.
He tells Wilbrun, his best friend in the orphanage, that he is going to be an Indian. Then, he tells him also that he will live in the mountain with his Cherokee family.
This is one of the reactions of Little Tree against colonial education he experienced. He rejects becoming White.
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41 Little Tree is very sad. He does not enjoy living in the orphanage. He
wants to go home. He does not like the educational system in the orphanage. One night, he is looking at the Dog Star and telling his grandparents and Willow John
that he wants to come back to the forest. He wants to go home. It shows the rebellion of Little Tree against White. Unfortunately, he has not yet made his
willingness to be true. It is just coming in his feeling and thought to be at home, living there as Cherokee will do.
They stayed a long time, singing on the chapel, so I got to watch the Dog Star until it rose high. I told Granma and Granpa and Willow John I
wanted to come home. p.197 The feeling and thought to be home always comes into Little Tree’s mind.
It is his spirit to make it becomes true. He makes a final decision to run away from the orphanage and go home.
In a little while a loudspeaker told Granpa which one was his bus. I walked over to the bus with him. The door was open and we stood there a minute.
Granpa was looking off somewheres. I pulled on his pants leg. I didn’t hold on like I had done after Ma’s funeral, but I kind of pulled. Granpa
looked down. I said, “Granpa, I want to go home”. p.198
Grandpa comes to the orphanage secretly when people in the orphanage celebrate Christmas. Little Tree sees him. Little Tree is so confused. He wants to
leave the orphanage, but he is so afraid if the Reverend will find him and Granpa. Finally, he runs away from the orphanage and go to the bus station to chase
Granpa. When Little Tree finds him, Little Tree tells him that he will go home with him. Then, they go home together.
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42
4.4. The Meaning of Little Tree’s Reactions against Colonial Education
