The Woman Warrior :: essays research papers

Love Medicine Lipsha Morrisey's confusion about his place in society results in his combining both old Indian traditions with new American ideas in an attempt to discover himself and his place in society. Although this combination ultimately ends with disaster, Lipsha uncovers a powerful lesson about love. Lipsha's first mistake begins when he decides to concoct a "love medicine". Fearing for Nector and Marie's relationship, he draws from old Indian superstitions since "these love medicines is something of an old Chippewa specialty" (241). But in reality, while the idea of the love charm was born in Indian tradition, Lipsha strays into the American realm when creating the charm. Instead of the hearts of wild geese that the spell requires, Lipsha buys turkey hearts from the grocery story, a completely American creation. Shunning the Chippewa gods, Lipsha instead attempts to have the hearts blessed by a catholic priest. His attempts at playing love doctor backfire when Nector chokes on the turkey heart and dies. Yet even though Lipsha repents and realizes "it was all my fault for playing with power I did not understand", Nector's true love for Marie is allowed the chance to be revealed when his spirit returns for a final fairwell (255). Lipsha knows that since the love medicine was a fraud, Nector's love was real. "He loved you over time and distanceIt's true feeling, not no magic. No supermarket heart could have brung him back" (257). Much like his decision to "Americanize" ancient Indian love spells, Lipsha mentally "Americanizes" whatever seems to reflect the old culture. His observations of people and life reflect his susceptibility to American influences. Throughout the chapter, he makes references to video games and pinball machines when describing something. Death has always been an important part of Indian culture, as evidenced in numerous myths and legends. American Indians believe the soul is a tangible object, existing in all living objects. As a person dies, the soul departs, and travels to a realm of spirits. When Nector lays dying on the floor, Lipsha draws from his Indian heritage, the respect and awe of the soul while describing it with an American twist. "Time was flashing back and forth like a pinball machine.