Growing-up In Ethnic Spirit

Maria Campbell(1940-)is a famous Canadian aboriginal female writer,and with the publication of her memoir Halfbreed,the issue of indigenous peoples has attracted wide public concern in Canadian society.Halfbreed pays much attention to racial discrimination,oppression and poverty of some indigenous peoples,especially indigenous females,which is regarded as the landmark of the Renaissance of contemporary Canadian Aboriginal literature.From the perspective of initiation story,the thesis focuses on the analysis of protagonist Campbell’s growth process in colonized context and ethnic spirit.The thesis analyzes Halfbreed in terms of characters,structures and contents.Firstly,it introduces the major characters in Campbell’s growth process by employing the theories of initiation guides and initiation companions.Secondly,it explores how Campbell adopts the typical pattern of initiation story to illustrate her own growth process.Thirdly,based on the text analysis of Halfbreed,this thesis demonstrates the themes and the realistic significance of the novel.This thesis holds the opinion that Halfbreed conforms to the elements of initiation stories and can be seen as a typical initiation story.To analyze Halfbreed from the perspective of initiation story provides a new interpretation of the text.In addition,this thesis renders more people aware the hard initiation processes and the ceaseless struggle of aboriginal women.Campbell’s growth experience is of important inspiration to contemporary aboriginal females who are awakening and struggling in a dilemma.