What Is Ida's Relationship In A Yellow Raft On Blue Water

Perspectives and Relationships
Often times, although, there is a lack of compatibility, people still force themselves into relationships. In the novel, A Yellow Raft on Blue Water, the author, Michael Dorris creates a story revolved around the lives of three female protagonists of Native American descent, and the narration is provided by three different, troubled characters. One of the narrators, Christine, describes the struggles she faces from balancing the relationships she has with herself, her daughter, and the only mother she’s ever known. Despite her attempts of being a decent role model to her daughter and the perfect child to her mother, the disconnection is still prevalent. A contribution to these wrecked relationships may be her
Sacrificing family and reputation for her aunt, she raises a child, Christine, who was conceived by her father’s affair with her aunt, Clara. Christine’s biological mother is actually Ida’s aunt, Clara. Once Ida has Christine she distances herself from the child in fear of Clara returning to claim her. Ida had asked Christine to call her “Aunt Ida” (325). From this , it’s revealed that Ida is afraid of losing people, so she would rather save the heartbreak by avoiding a close attachment altogether. This illustrates her as a woman who is careful about making mistakes. Being cautious, she felt like Willard, her recent lover, and her “unlikely strangers, unlikely partners” because his “triumph threatened to overshadow” hers (349). This illustrates she as a safe approach toward establishing new relationships and is careful in who she chooses to grow attached to and love. She expected to worse to come out of her relationship with him. Because of Ida’s careful selection of people, this causes a problem with the relationship she has with Christine. With the combination of hot-headed, abrasive child and a mother perceived as cold and distant, the relationship would not