Margaret Laurence's short story The Loons - Racism.

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The Loons: Racism

        Margaret Laurence’s short story The Loons is a tale about the uneasy relationship of the female narrator with a French half-breed girl named Picquette.  The narrator is a woman named Vanessa looking back on her youth and reflecting on her attempts to befriend Picquette who had a big chip on her soldier as a result of her minority status.  The Loons is a tale that illustrates how racism exists in the guise of good intentions, intolerance and stereotyping.

        Good intentions can somehow result in conflicts.  When Vanessa’s good-hearted father Ewen decides to invite Picquette to stay at the family cottage, it is the narrator’s mother Beth who puts up resistance.  The family holds a discussion about Picquette joining them.  Beth complains that Picquette presence might adversely affect the other children in the family.  The narrator’s father responds to his wife’s concerns.  “She’s not contagious,” my father said.  And it would be company for Vanessa.” (Laurence 313)  The next comment that Vanessa’s mother makes reflects a negative attitude towards aboriginal people.  In a newspaper report about assault on a black person, a lady named Barret t was a witness to  “unconscious, blind racism” which is is felt by people of color even through good intentions.”   Vanessa’s mother and grandmother display a lack of tolerance in the story.

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Vanessa’s mother Beth is dismayed at the prospect of hosting Picquette and shows how intolerant she is.  “Oh Dear, “my mother said in distress, “I’ll bet anything she has nits in her hair.” (Laurence 313)  Up to this point, the negative comments about Picquette could have been class related but it is Vanessa’s grandmother MacLeod who sets the stage for the racist attitude that some family members have.  Grandmother MacLeod decides not to go to the cottage if Picquette is invited and displays her intolerance.  “Ewen, if that half-breed youngster comes along to Diamond Lake, I’m not going,” she announced. ...

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