Study Notes for Son of a Trickster

BRIEF BIOGRAPHY OF EDEN ROBINSON

  • Born in Kitamaat, British Columbia.
  • Part of the Haisla and Heiltsuk First Nations.
  • Education:
    • BA from the University of Victoria.
    • MFA from the University of British Columbia.
  • Literary Career:
    • 1995: Published first book, "Traplines," a collection of four short stories.
    • Won Britain’s Winifred Holtby Memorial Prize.
    • 2000: Published first novel, "Monkey Beach."
    • Won Ethel Wilson Fiction Prize.
    • 2003: Returned to Kitamaat Village to care for her father, diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease in 1998.
    • 2006: Published "Blood Sports," returning to characters from "Traplines."
    • 2017: Published "Son of a Trickster," first book of a planned trilogy.
    • 2018: Published "Trickster Drift," winning Ethel Wilson Fiction Prize for the sequel.
    • 2019: Diagnosed with polymyalgia rheumatica, affecting her writing abilities, but continues to write.
    • Plans to publish the third book in the Trickster trilogy in 2021.

HISTORICAL CONTEXT

  • Events in "Son of a Trickster" based on:
    • Real-life Kitamaat Village history.
    • Eurocan paper mill shutdown.
    • Idle No More movement, started in December 2012 by Indigenous women and allies for Indigenous rights and environmental protection.
  • Haisla Nation has occupied Kitamaat Village for hundreds of years, about half of 1,700 Haisla people live there.
  • Protagonist Jared resides in Kitimat, the nearby town, as his father used to work at the Eurocan paper mill.

RELATED LITERARY WORKS

  • Draws on Heiltsuk and Haisla mythology, especially the trickster raven Wee’git, mostly preserved in oral tradition.
  • Influential works cited by Robinson:
    • "Celia's Song" by Lee Maracle
    • "Brown Girl in the Ring" by Nalo Hopkinson
    • "Motorcycles and Sweetgrass" by Drew Hayden Taylor
    • "One Good Story, That One" by Thomas King
    • "Tracks" by Louise Erdrich
    • Neil Gaiman’s "American Gods."
  • Similar gritty coming-of-age story: Sherman Alexie’s "The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian."

KEY FACTS

  • Full Title: Son of a Trickster
  • When Written: 2009–2017
  • Where Written: Kitamaat, British Columbia.
  • When Published: February 7, 2017
  • Literary Period: Contemporary
  • Genre: Young Adult Novel
  • Setting: Kitimat, British Columbia, 2002–2013
  • Climax: Jared escapes the river otters.
  • Antagonist: David; Richie
  • Point of View: Third Person

EXTRA CREDIT

  • As Seen on TV: Adapted into CBC series "Trickster," premiered late 2020 with a second season based on "Trickster Drift" planned.
  • Quoth the Raven: Wee’git, the trickster raven, is a common figure in various Indigenous myths of the Pacific Northwest Coast, embodying both trickster and creator roles.

INTRODUCTION

  • Narrative Structure: The narrative uses non-linear storytelling, intertwining current events with flashbacks and mythical elements.

CHARACTERS

  • Jared Martin: 16-year-old protagonist, navigating a troubled family life, comes from Haisla and 'Namgis heritage.

    • Background: Parents divorced, has an abusive mother and a father addicted to pain medication.
    • Main Traits: Responsible beyond his years, seeks unconditional love, struggles with a tumultuous identity.

  • Maggie Moody/Jared’s Mom: Jared's aggressive, often violent, mother.

    • Relationships: Abusive towards Jared, has a complex past involving a series of abusive relationships; emphasizes violence in her expressions of love.

  • Sarah Jaks: Jared’s girlfriend, interested in Indigenous culture; struggles with mental health and self-injury.

    • Conflicts: Tension in their relationship due to her exploration of sexuality and Jared’s discomfort with violence.

  • Phil Martin/Jared’s Dad: Absent, drug-addicted father; represents the negative impacts of substance abuse.

  • Nana Sophia: Jared’s paternal grandmother, provides him unconditional support and love; contrasts with his mother’s volatile nature.

  • **Other Minor Characters: ** Destiny (stepsister), Richie (mother’s boyfriend), Mr. and Mrs. Jaks (elderly neighbors), along with others including friends and family members.

MAJOR THEMES

Dysfunctional Families and Responsibility:

  • The characters exhibit complex family dynamics that push children like Jared into adult responsibilities. Jared’s financial and emotional burdens grow as he tries to care for both parents.

**Love vs. Violence:

  • Relationships often mix affection with violence, raising confusion about love. Jared struggles to accept violent love but yearns for warmth.

Escapism and Confronting Problems:

  • Jared attempts to escape through alcohol and drugs, though this ultimately leads to more significant problems. The story promotes facing issues directly to regain control.

The Environment and Human Destruction:

  • Central narrative around Indigenous beliefs illustrates connections between magic, nature, and environmentalism. References to real-life movements such as Idle No More emphasize this theme.

KEY EVENTS

  • Family History: Jared’s complex background unfolds between flawed relationships with his mother, absent father, and supportive grandmother.
  • Alcohol and Drugs: Dependence on substances emerges as major themes throughout Jared’s interactions and personal struggles.
  • Supernatural Elements: The presence of magic throughout the story foreshadows deeper connections to Jared’s identity and family's past.
  • Climactic Confrontation: Final chapters culminate in Jared's recognition of his identity and need to confront magic, intertwined with environmental messages.