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One-Two-Three Little Indians


Being oppressed and discriminated has constantly been a major source of disturbances in different societies. Frequently, we hear about the riots, which have been caused by racism. The differences between cultures and human beings make people hate each other up to a point, where we only see the worst in people.
This theme is exactly what the short story “One-Two-Three Little Indians” deals with. The short story has been written by Hugh Garner. The short story “One- Two- Three Little Indians” reflects the author’s concern for oppressed people, it allows a glimpse of native resistance to white expectations, and culminates in native death that is depicted as inevitable. Perhaps because the death of the native fits the master narratives. In “One- Two- Three Little Indians,” Hugh Garner reminds us of the gap between character and stereotype, but he knows that the oppressive power of stereotypical attitudes is not easily escaped. He exposes racism without reducing his protagonist to the category of the other. Garner does not write about the death of a race nor regard victimization as an unfortunate necessity.
The main character of the story is Big Tom, who lives with his much younger wife and the baby. The baby is apparently sick. Even though Big Tom is concerned for the baby’s sickness, he does not do anything, not least because his wife seems rather indifferent to the situation. The situation is also caused by Tom’s limited economy to a greater extent. However, time passes and suddenly Big Tom realizes how bad the child’s condition is. But then, it is too late to save the child’s life.
The narrative technique at the beginning of the short story is panoramic, allowing the reader to have a definite point of departure for the subsequent action. The scenic technique is utilized throughout the rest of the novel, where the recollections of the narrator become vivid, thus keeping the attention of the reader captured incessantly. In his writing method Hugh Garner stays faithful to the multifaceted personalities of his main characters that cause their psychological profiles to appear believable. He does not make himself guilty of neither hyperbole nor understatement. It establishes a sense of authenticity and adds a touch of complexity to the characters.
Big Tom is apparently a very proud character, yet due to the circumstances he has unwillingly taken the role of female in the family. Their economy is not fabulous; something we as readers realize when the narrator describes the house. “He covered the baby with a corner of the church-donated patchwork quilt, and lit the kerosene lamp that stood on the mirrorless dressing table inside the stove”
The above-mentioned quote clearly indicates that the Tom’s economical condition is obviously below average.
However, Tom tries to find solace in telling the baby heroic ancient tales of the period where the Indians were mighty. He attempts to forget the miserable reality by dreaming into a world where he and his people are the rulers. Nevertheless, he is perfectly aware of the fact that those ages are past. Stills he seeks to imitate his ancestors by not working in a mine. He considers that working outside the mines makes him more free, and he enjoys the freedom even if it means economical aggravation. Unfortunately, the group mentalities often result in vague regimentation that numbs the individuals from thinking freely, as they take upon themselves the qualities accepted by the groups; something which is also happened in Tom’s situation.
“(…) a real Indian with a feather’n everything,’ and also that he sold more baskets while wearing it. In the time he had been living along the highway he had learned to give them what they expected.”
The above-mentioned quote clearly shows that Tom is confused whether he wears the feather because he is a real Indian or he does it to satisfy the white people.
One other fact that shatters his manhood is his wife. She is a perfect example of the modern woman, exactly the opposite of what Tom pictures as his wife; a true Indian wife.
Furthermore, he is constantly exposed to racism. The white people consider him as an immature child, who is not supposed to live a reasonable life. In quotes as “as if he were talking about an animal in a cage.” and “with the amused kindness of a man talking to a child.” , we discover that Tom perennially gets inhuman treatment. Unfortunately, Tom is not able to find a way out of his troubles besides ignoring it, and it is a fact which clearly annoys him.
Through the years the white people have oppressed the Indians and pushed them aside, in order to achieve development. They are forced to lose their true identity. A perfect example of the fact is also visible in the short story. At the point where Big Tom is carrying his child on the highway, he notices that people in the cars are laughing and pointing at him. Then he realizes that it is due to the fact that he is still wearing the feather; for him it is a symbol of a true Indian, whereas the white people consider it for being funny. Therefore he thinks that it is necessary to remove it, and he pulls it off, and throws it in the ditch. This sequence shows that slowly the white people are demolishing the real Indian values.

On the whole it is an aspect of the human experience that Hugh Garner wishes to express. How momentary outer impulses may affect one’s sense of right and wrong distorting it to such an extent so that it appears inhuman. It is about one person’s wish to humiliate other. The core of the matter is that the antagonism between the different cultures has become so developed that we only see the worst in people.
The main theme in the short story is without any doubts racism; not the kind of racism which we are rather familiar with through the media. But racism that is still in progress in different societies. A slow and deadly kind, which is totally ignored; both by the people who exert, but to a greater extent by those who are the victims. The oppression has slowly become a natural part of these people’s every day, and that is what Hugh Garner has tried to express in “One-Two-Three Little Indians”.


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