A discussion on the book “House Made of Dawn” by N. Scott Momaday, a story about a Native American man that could never fit into the white man’s world, and did not feel a connection with the Native American world any more.
The following paper discusses the themes of dawn and dusk in House Made of Dawn focusing on their symbolic and metaphorical meanings of new beginnings and endings. The paper briefly discusses the story, which tells of the differences between the races, and how difficult it is for Native Americans to fit into either world.
“We learn throughout the novel that he never could fit into the white man’s world, but he does not feel a connection with the Native American world any more. He is going through his own personal “hell” of not belonging anywhere. We see his life in Los Angeles, after he finishes serving his time in prison for murdering the albino. We can see immediately this is not the place for him. He cannot find his place. He returns home only when he is beaten so badly, he almost dies. The story uses the imagery of New Mexico to paint pictures of the old ways, and even romanticize them. Dusk and dawn are important elements in the painting of pictures.”