Tommy Orange uses the perspectives of multiple characters in his books. He creates Native American characters, both from times of the past and modern times. These characters serve as symbolic representations of the loss of culture, identity, and language that many Native Americans suffer from, as a result of generational trauma caused by forced assimilation. Orange’s characters achieve symbolic representation through Orange’s use of the first person point of view. The first person point of view allows readers to have the deepest understanding of a character’s thoughts, emotions, and the character as a whole. Using the first person point of view is incredibly effective in Orange’s novels because of the large number of main characters in the novels. Trying to differentiate and fully understand many different characters of similar backgrounds and goals can be difficult; thus, the use of the first person point of view creates a better opportunity for a reader to truly understand each character as an individual. 

Throughout Orange’s novels, he uses sensory language, invoking imagery, smell, and sound. He uses sensory language in order to juxtapose society’s strong relationship with infrastructure and man-made landscapes, and society’s diminishing relationship with the natural world. Orange writes, “we know the sound of the freeway better than we do rivers, the howl of distant trains better than wolf howls, we know the smell of gas and freshly wet concrete, the smell of burnt rubber, better than we do the smell of cedar or sage or even frybread…” Not only does this quote utilize sensory language through the phrases “sound of the freeway,” “howl of distant trains,” “burnt rubber,” and “smell of cedar,” but also accomplishes Orange’s goal of bringing attention to the growing divide between society’s familiarity with a fake, man-made world and the real, natural world. The use of sensory language highlights the growing divide because it forces the reader to actually feel the writing. While reading this quote, one can hear the sounds of the freeway and smell the scent of gasoline. This unique experience, created by Orange’s use of sensory language, allows readers to question their own relationships with the man-made world and the natural world. 

Orange juxtaposes the lives of the characters to their own culture. Orange’s novels often follow modern Native Americans who have little to no connection to their heritage or culture. Orange describes these characters’ lives with great detail, but often detailing the depressing and negative aspects of their lives. Orange highlights personal and social struggles within his characters’ lives such as generational poverty, addiction, illegal activities, obesity, and depression. While Orange emphasizes the gloom and emotional weight burdening characters who are disconnected with their culture, he highlights the richness of that same culture. Orange describes the Oakland powwow event by detailing the vibrancy of the brilliant, festive clothing; the liveliness of the exciting, cultural dances; and the wonderful aromas emitting from the indigenous foods. Orange ultimately compares the forlorn lives of the modern Native American characters with the colorful and bustling atmosphere, radiating from the culture, at the Oakland powwow event. The use of juxtaposition ultimately highlights the need for culture in each individual’s life, and how the introduction of culture can fulfill generational hardship. 

My emulation offers characters with similar qualities to those of Tommy Orange’s novels. Paul, a Native American, has lost his family due to addiction and depression. The themes of addiction and depression caused by generational trauma resulting from forced assimilation are often explored within Orange’s novels. Not only does using addiction and depression as the causes of Paul’s parents’ deaths explore the topic of forced assimilation resulting in generational trauma, but it also alludes to the idea that forced assimilation is the root cause of the loss of culture, language, and identity that many Native Americans currently suffer from. Furthermore, Sheila, Paul’s wife, represents the continuing disconnection between modern Native Americans and their culture. Because Sheila is a white woman, Paul strays farther from his culture, since his most valuable social connection does not share his culture. While Sheila urges Paul to attend the powwow event in order to embrace and reconnect with his culture, she represents assimilation simply because Paul and Sheila are in a mixed-race relationship. 

Orange’s novels often utilize sensory language to force readers to question their own relationships with nature, urban landscapes, and modern ideals. Orange is able to force these thoughts onto readers because he details both urban landscapes and the natural world. Within my emulation, sensory language is used in a similar way by highlighting the decay of Oakland, California. It is important to emphasize the decay of Oakland because many modern Native Americans reside in this city. By using phrases such as “smoke… mixes with the clouds,""urban decay of the apartment buildings,” and “depressing landscape,” I am able to force readers to picture the harsh scenery of Oakland, California. My use of sensory language is similar to the language employed by Orange because both Orange and I use sensory language in order to invoke imagery in the readers’ minds. Forcing the reader to imagine the landscape being described is important because it allows the reader to relate to the emotions experienced by the characters. 

Similar to the world of Tommy Orange, my emulation juxtaposes the life of a modern Native American with his own culture. I describe the bare, melancholic life of Paul, a Native American living in Oakland, California, to his vibrant, lively culture. Juxtaposing Paul’s pitiful life with his exciting culture allows the reader to understand the true disconnect between Paul and his own culture. By detailing the traumatic experiences Paul is burdened with from his childhood (both of his parents dying while he was still a child, being assimilated at his orphanage, and others’ constant refusal to adopt him because of his financial state) and his current, depressing life, it is evident that Pual has experienced generational trauma due to forced assimilation (a popular theme within Orange’s novels). Even though Pual is disconnected from his culture, he still longs for a reconnection. Because of this, I detail his culture as being “vibrant” and “energetic.” Ultimately, juxtaposing the life of Paul with his culture reveals the true extent to which Paul is disconnected from his culture.