In Tomson Highway’s The Rez Sisters, Rosabella’s choice to commit suicide after moving off the reservation illustrates how once minorities have seen both sides of society and realize the true exclusions between modern culture and their own, they decide the fight for a just society is hopeless, and find it easier to end their own life than to take the weight upon themselves. While reflecting on the cause of her best friend’s suicide, Emily recalls, “She was always thinkin’ real deep. And talkin’ about being a woman. And suicide. And alcohol and despair and how fuckin’ hard it is to be an indian in this country” (Highway 97). After Rosabella moves away from her home town and is exposed to the unjust realities of life as a minority, she is forced to look at her…show more content… This heavy weight is too much for Rosabella, and she gives up hope of equality and decides to take her life. Ultimately, when oppressed people see the other side of their exclusion, they forgo their ambition and succumb to the crushing weight. In addition, the story, The Red Convertible also reveals the struggle of dealing with society’s exclusion. Henry’s shift in perspective on life after he enters modern society reveals that once minorities realize the depth of their oppression, they feel hope is lost, and the burden of knowing will remain with them until the inevitable end. While remembering his brother’s return from the military, Lyman states, “When he came home, though, Henry was very different, and I’ll say this: the change was no good” (Lamartine 528). During Henry’s enrollment in the military, he receives first hand experience of being oppressed by society, and must emotionally change in order to deal with these thoughts. After, as Lyman sits outside with his brother, he recalls, “As I watched it I felt something squeezing inside me and tightening and trying to let go all at the same time. I knew I was not just feeling it myself; I knew I was feeling what Henry was going through at that
