Turtle Meat

Story
● Amalia Wind is an elderly woman who lives mostly on her own, except for her
hired help, Homer LaWare, who works as her hired help. They live in the
Adirondack foothill, with a fishing pond near the house. LaWare supports
Amalia, not only because he is her hired help, but is also essentially her
boyfriend. In the story, he goes out fishing, catching a few fish over the time,
eventually a turtle biting the line. He struggles with the turtle for much of the
story, spending a much longer time than intended in a battle with the turtle.
After he catches it, he returns home, leaving the fish behind but keeping the
now-dead turtle. As he returns, he finds the daughter of Amalia, whom he has a
strong disliking for as she often attempts to get rid of him. She is accompanied
by strangers and he is informed by them that they have taken away his partner.
Theme Throughout the Story
● Joseph Bruchac III’s story, Turtle Meat, uses many Native American ideas,
symbols, and conflicts to express the bittersweet concept of aging and its
connection to greed. The early introduction to Amalia and Homer and their
relationship provides a window into this, and the killing of the turtle, which
represents longevity and protection, expresses the greed and bittersweet side
of aging.
Cultural Background + Author Background

○ Bruchac grew up in the Adirondack Mountains of New York, in the far northeast corner of the
state. He earned his master’s from Syracuse University, and a Ph.D. in Comparative
Literature from the Union Institute of Ohio. He worked as an educator in many different
places, including high schools, colleges, and junior high schools, as well as benign a
wrestling coach. Beyond this, he worked on his writing as he enjoyed it all of his life, and has
produced over 120 stories over the course of his life. Although is of Abenaki, English, and
Slovak ancestry, the Nulhegan Abenaki Nation tribe leaders claim that he is stealing their
culture and is not truly native enough to claim to be of their tribe.
Essential Question

● What roles do nature, spirituality, and the relationship between humans and the natural
world play in Native American literature?
○ The story is a great example of the connection between humans and the natural
world and its significance in Native American literature. It shows how the story is
expressed in symbolism, such as the turtle, and the significance of the struggle
between the turtle and the man. Because the turtle represents long life, healing,
and spirituality, it’s struggle between it and the man is important as he slowly kills
the turtle, thus killing his partner in the process. The story paints Native American
culture into its descriptions, as well as their discrimination. In this specific story, it
is show as the main character often claims that his actions are due to “the Indian
in [him]” (Bruchac), which shows how he has reclaimed Native stereotypes that
have been places upon him.
Homer
● “‘Coming over,’ he called out. With slow careful steps he crossed the fifty
yards between his shed and the single-story house with the picture window
and the gold-painted steps.”
○ This moment in the story provides indirect characterization for both Homer and Amalia. In this
moment, Homer is shown to understand Amalia. He is slow and careful, and he knows Amalia
well, as he knows not to overreact to her request of help.
● “Just don’t know how it happened, Homer. I ain’t so old as that, am I, Old
Man?” “No, Amalia. That must of was just a cramp. Nothing more than that.”
○ Homer, knowing Amalia is old, but doesn’t want to really accept how much it’s affecting her,
chooses to protect her feelings over being honest, which shows how much he cares for
Amalia and her feelings.
Amalia
● “The old woman’s cracked voice carried out to the woodshed near the overgrown
field.” (Bruchac)
○ As simple as this line is, directly stating things about Amalia, that she is old and has a cracked voice, it
also expresses that her voice carries. This expression uses both direct and indirect characterization in
this way, as it allows the reader to understand that she is a self-assured person with a strong voice.
● “‘Coming over,’ he called out. With slow careful steps he crossed the fifty yards
between his shed and the single-story house with the picture window and the gold-
painted steps.”
○ This moment in the story provides indirect characterization for both Amalia and Homer. This moment
takes place right after Amalia asks for help, and instead of rushing over to help her, Homer moves
slowly over a long distance, which implies that Amalia not only has problems like this often, but they
are never dire situations. It also implies that she is old enough where she can’t completely take care of
herself on her own.
Conflict

Man vs Self (Homer v Homer)

● Homer is shown to combat with himself in different ways. In his struggle with the turtle, it reflects this, as
he makes it hard on himself, as well as when he is helping Amalia. There is a constant level of inner
conflict, and Homer‘s internal struggle leads to the issues with the turtle

Man vs Man
● Home and Amalia’s daughter mutually dislike each other, which plays heavily into Amalia’s role and age,
and creates the conflict that ends the story

Man vs Nature
● The struggle between Homer and the turtle, which is a metaphor that exemplifies the whole theme of the
story. It’s representation ties into Man vs Self and the greed that comes from old age.
Significant Symbolism

● Dogs
○ Dogs, in Native American culture, “spiritual beings, guides, and symbols of loyalty and protection”
(Cattori), which explains why Amalia can see them even after they passed. An eerie foreshadowing of her
future, the dogs stay by her side to be her guide through the ends of her life. This also follows the idea that
they are spiritual beings, as they surpass death to be Amalia’s loyal protectors. This not only adds depth to
the story and it’s concept, but shows the deep respect Native American have for nature and animals.
● Turtle
○ Traditionally represents “represents healing, wisdom, spirituality, health, safety, longevity, protection, and
fertility” (”Native American Animals”), which creates the conflict as Homer kills a turtle. The death of the
turtle in the story is a metaphor for Amalia and her future, as well as his own. This provides a deeper
understanding as it creates another way to understand the concept, as well as showing the constant use
of symbolism in Native American literature.
Final Thoughts
The story provides as a warning to not become greedy in your later years, as well
to enjoy every moment of your life. It voices the idea that you will deeply struggle
in the end of your life and the connection you make will be the people to support
you. Many people greed for a longer life or more time, without stopping to thin
about what’s really important in their limited time
Works Cited!
Carttori, Ana. “Celebrating Native American Day: The Timeless Bond between Dogs and Indigenous People.”
Jazz’s Wonderland, Jazz’s Wonderland, 22 Sept. 2023, www.jazzswonderland.com/blog/celebrating-native-
american-day-the-timeless-bond-between-dogs-and-indigenous-people#:~:text=Dogs%20have%20held
%20a%20sacred,symbols%20of%20loyalty%20and%20protection.

“Joseph Bruchac III, Turtle Meat (#review).” Whispering Gums, 16 July 2023,
whisperinggums.com/2023/07/16/joseph-bruchac-iii-turtle-meat-review/.

“Joseph Bruchac.” Poetry Foundation, Poetry Foundation, www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/joseph-

bruchac#:~:text=Poet%20and%20storyteller%20Joseph%20Bruchac,the%20Union%20Institute%20of
%20Ohio. Accessed 16 Feb. 2024.

“Native American Animals: The Turtle (Keya) Symbolizes Grandmother Earth (Unci Maka).” Native Hope
Blog, Native Hope, 22 May 2023, blog.nativehope.org/native-american-animals-turtle-k
%C3%A9ya#:~:text=To%20most%20tribes%2C%20the%20turtle,mud%20to%20create%20Mother%20Earth.