Waterlily A Different Perspective
... In the book Waterlily, the author Ella Cara Deloria effectively uses the feminist viewpoint to show us a different facet of Dakota culture. A common habit of authors whose books are written through the male perspective is to use the character as a center for the events of the book to revolve around, and in that way, show the reader how the character develops. However, Deloria takes a unique approach with the feminine viewpoint and uses her character as an anchor through which we can see the day to day aspects of Dakota culture, not as it revolves around Blue Bird or Waterlily as separate persons, but how the culture itself moulds those that are part of it. ... Deloria takes this concept and implements it in Waterlily when Blue Bird and the remainder of her family flee and meet with a group of Teton Indians who take them in following the massacre of their family men. ... Waterlily accepts the proposal of Sacred Horse largely because the two horses that he brought with him would be of benefit to her family, not because she personally wished to take his hand in marriage. ... Deloria uses this imagery to give the reader a sense of the intense importance the Dakota have for their faith, but lets us see it through the eyes of Waterlily, whom is forced to sit on the sidelines and watch in fascination at the spectacle that is taking place.