Indian Horse Character Analysis

An individual left alone is no different from a toddler, they cease to grow, cease to develop, forget to love and inevitably embrace madness or in extreme cases-death. In the literary masterpiece, Indian Horse by Richard Wagamese, Saul Indian Horse is surrounded by many people who immeasurably influence him, but he feels unconditionally alone as he searches for his identity. Family is instrumental in defining one’s character, however Saul’s biological family provided him with dark scars and dismal dreams. Fred, Martha and Virgil Kelly are the critical reason Saul’s life developed for the better.

When Saul is with the Kelly family, he is pleased and jubilant, much like an infant with his mother, Saul Indian Horse feels safe, protected and …show more content…
When Fred Kelly acts as a scout during Saul’s last game of the winter he is given an opportunity he never dared to dream of. As Father Leboutiler summarises, “’Fred wants you to go and live with his family and play hockey for the Moose,’” (Wagamese 95) Saul’s reaction is simply priceless. He astonishingly remarks, “I felt as though the world had slipped out of orbit. I could find no words.” (95) From the beginning, Fred brings positive change into Saul’s life. With a new family comes a new life, living with the Kellys means that hockey is a bigger element of his life than ever before. Saul utilizes the sport as a means to achieve higher mental and physical strength while simultaneously learning more about himself. Quickly he realizes the special charm of the game, once he starts skating he becomes an immaculate near godlike human, “there was no fear in me. There was no anxiety. There was only the magic of the game.” (106) Throughout the novel, Saul grows to become more enjoyable as a young man. On numerous accounts, he is pleasantly surprised with his new life. When asked to help …show more content…
The Kellys have always provided a stable supply of love, support and understanding, they have always been willing to help Saul’s life improve by sacrificing their time, energy and secrets. When Saul arrives in Manitouwadge, he notes that “the house looked the same as when I’d left it.” (208) The family has always been a stable lighthouse in a raging ocean. To Saul, they are the only thing keeping him afloat. Wagamese weaves together Saul’s complex thoughts in one expression, “It was what made a home, I believed; the things we keep, the sum of us.” (208) In his adolescence, Saul finds the solution to every problem within his foster family. In adulthood, Saul comes to a difficult conclusion when he admits that, “The trust of abuse and the rape of my innocence were closer to the surface, and I used anger and rage and physical violence to block myself off from it.” (200) He has one final inner demon to defeat, however, he knows exactly how to overcome it. Returning to his family, Saul enjoys the tranquility of knowing that someone else understands. Tyler Joseph once sang, “Living like a ghost you walk by everyone you know, you say that you're fine but you have lost your sway and glow. So I stopped by to let you know, friend, please don't take your life away from me.” This excerpt from his song,

Show More