The Land In Chee's Daughter By Juanita Platero
"Land is not merely soil, it is a fountain of energy flowing through a circuit of soils, plants, and animals." This quote by Aldo Leopold helps detail the theme behind the short story "Chee's Daughter" written by Juanita Platero and Siyowin Miller. In the story, Chee loses his daughter because of his wife's family traditions. He confronts his in-laws and is able to make a barter with them for his daughter. He exchanged large amounts of food which he grew on his own land for Little One. This barter helped expressed the theme; if a man takes care of his land, the land will never fail him.
Chee is a Navajo Native that lives off the land with his parents and siblings. The land has always been important to him because it is what gives his family …show more content…
A custom that her family had. This meant that Chee wouldn't be able to parent his own daughter. As spring came to an end, Chee set his plan in place; to use what he had, to get what he wanted. Chee knotted the new yellow kerchief about his neck a little tighter, gave the broad black hat brim an extra tug, but these were only gestures of assurance and he knew it. The land had not failed him. (29) Chee rode to his in-law's house where they were keeping Little One with a cart full of the past harvest. Our fields gave us so much this year, I thought to sell or trade this to the trader. (29) His plan was simple; he would give Old Man Fat and his wife a year long supply of food in trade for Little one. When Chee first attempted to get back Little One, he had failed miserably. He hoped this time, his plan worked.
Fat Man and his wife decisively took Chee's offer of the food in return for Little One. At this moment, Chee realized what the land just did for him. With his smarts and by the help of the land, Chee secured his daughter for good. As Chee rode away with Little One, she remarked, "My corn embrace each other. In the middle of the wide field . . . Yellow Corn Boy embrace each other." (31) If a man takes care of his land, the land will never fail
Chee is a Navajo Native that lives off the land with his parents and siblings. The land has always been important to him because it is what gives his family …show more content…
A custom that her family had. This meant that Chee wouldn't be able to parent his own daughter. As spring came to an end, Chee set his plan in place; to use what he had, to get what he wanted. Chee knotted the new yellow kerchief about his neck a little tighter, gave the broad black hat brim an extra tug, but these were only gestures of assurance and he knew it. The land had not failed him. (29) Chee rode to his in-law's house where they were keeping Little One with a cart full of the past harvest. Our fields gave us so much this year, I thought to sell or trade this to the trader. (29) His plan was simple; he would give Old Man Fat and his wife a year long supply of food in trade for Little one. When Chee first attempted to get back Little One, he had failed miserably. He hoped this time, his plan worked.
Fat Man and his wife decisively took Chee's offer of the food in return for Little One. At this moment, Chee realized what the land just did for him. With his smarts and by the help of the land, Chee secured his daughter for good. As Chee rode away with Little One, she remarked, "My corn embrace each other. In the middle of the wide field . . . Yellow Corn Boy embrace each other." (31) If a man takes care of his land, the land will never fail