The Whale Rider Analysis

What Is The Author Trying To Say In The Whale Rider?

Let’s face it. We all have those family members. I’m talking about the annoying cousins, siblings, and (if you are a teen) parents. Embarrassing aunts and so on and so forth. The point is, everyone has family members that they don’t like. For example, in the book, The Whale Ride by Witi Ihimaera, there are lots of tensions throughout the story between family members. As I read this book, I think the author’s message to us, the readers of the book, is that even though you can’t choose your family members and you may not like some of them, they are or will be the most important thing in your life. And in this book Ihimaera shows that your family can surprise you, even if you think you know
everything about them. He also shows how your family will always love you no matter what and that they will always have your back. So why is (or will) your family be that one thing you will need? Well, the first reason is that they can surprise you. Even if you have known them your whole life. For example, Kahu surprises her whole family by writing a speech to her Koro in her native tongue, the Maori language. (Ihimaera 62) This is surprising to her family because she was never allowed in the school to learn the Maori language. All her knowledge on how to speak, let alone write, in the language came from her hiding outside the door and windows of the school, eavesdropping on the learning sessions. Another example on how your family can surprise you is that throughout the book, Koro didn’t believe Kahu was capable of doing anything. Which also includes being chief of the tribe, but Kahu proved him wrong. She was able to obtain a stone from very deep underwater and she saved the ancient bull. (Along with the tribe. Hypothetically.) Even Koro said, “I should’ve known she was the one.” (Ihimaera 145) This is important because it shows how even though this one man wasn’t happy with his grandchild being a girl and neglected her, in the end, she was the one thing he needed. A chief, a savior of both the whales and tribe, and the best grandchild ever. He may not have wanted a girl and expected a boy, but she proved to him that she is all he needed. Along with being able to surprise you in order to show their importance in your life, they will also love you no matter what. Yup, they are the only people that will probably love you unconditionally till the very end. Ihimaera shows this in the story when Koro clearly doesn’t want anything to do with Kahu, but she loves him. A lot. An example from the story is when it says, “It was surprising how closely Kahu and Koro Apirana resembled each other. The only difference was that she loved him, but he didn’t love her,” (Ihimaera 33) and Kahu is aware that her Koro doesn’t love her. She even says, “It’s not Paka’s fault, Nanny, that I’m a girl,” (Ihimaera 87) this clearly shows that she knows that Koro doesn’t love her because she’s a girl. It also shows how even though her grandfather is disgusted with her for a thing she can’t control, she still loves him! Long story short, she loves him and he doesn’t love her. For a very fatuous reason. This helps prove the authors claim because it shows how much this little girl loves her grandfather. Even if he doesn’t love her back and thinks nothing of her. It shows how a family member loves another family member (like you) no matter how he or she thinks of them, treats of them, and what have you. The last, but certainly not least, reason for why the family members you can’t choose and may not like, will be the one thing you need is that they will always have your back.
In Rawiri’s own words, (well, more like the author’s) he says, “As far as I could see, they were living the way wanted to, and no matter what changes they had made to themselves or their lives, a cous is a cous.” (Ihimaera 62) There is also a part in the book where Rawiri does what his “cousins” asks him to. To not tell the tribe of their new lives and lifestyle. He also attempts to help Benard, a cousin, after he was run over by Jeff, a close friend. Why does all this matter? It shows how no matter what you do, how you act, or even who you are, “a cous is a cous.” (Ihimaera 62) That means that your family will always have your back. The cousins of Rawiri who don’t want to be shunned or embarrassed by the tribe tells Rawiri not to tell to the tribe. And he doesn’t because Rawiri doesn’t care about the changes they have made to themselves. As long as they are happy, it doesn’t matter how they live. They are his family (not really) and he doesn’t want to ruin their life and such. He has their back(s). This helps prove the theme of the book because you know you will always have someone or a group of people you can trust to support you in any and every decision you make in life. That group of people or person is in your family. And let’s face it, it feels good to have the support of your family in a big
decision in your life. The theme of The Whale Rider by Witi Ihimeara is that even though you cannot pick your family members and there are some family members you dislike, they will be the most important people in your life because they can surprise you, they will always love you, and they always got your back.
I guess the big question is, what does this mean? Why is this important? I mean sure, I wrote an essay because it was an assignment given to me and I had to do it, but there has to be some importance to it! This is important because it’s telling you that no matter how many times you wished you didn’t have a brother or sister. Or the times you wished you had different parents, regret to go to family reunions, you have to realize that these people that you might not like, are your family. They are the most important people in your life not only because you are related by blood, but they will always love you. (More or less.) And will support all your decisions. You only get one family. Know their importance in your life and you in theirs. Keep them close because there will never be anyone quite like your family
members.

1173 WORDS

Bibliography

Ihimaera, Witi. The Whale Rider. Auckland, New Zealand: Reed Books, 1987. Print.