Prompt #6 - Conclusion (YRBW)

[Mrs. Asti]

An effective literary work does not merely stop or cease; it concludes. In the view of some critics, a work that does not provide the pleasure of significant closure has terminated with an artistic fault. A satisfactory ending is not, however, always conclusive in every sense; significant closure may require the reader to abide with or adjust to ambiguity and uncertainty. In a well-supported paragraph, discuss the ending of Dorris's "A Yellow Raft in Blue Water." Explain precisely how and why the ending appropriately or inappropriately concludes the work. Do not merely summarize the plot.

Respond to this post using the comment link below. At the top of your post, please include your first and last name.

[Jay]

Jayri Santos

A yellow raft in blue water written by Michael Dorris ends with the braiding of Aunt’s Ida hair. Page 372 “lifted my arms about my head, and began…” the ending of A yellow raft in blue water both appropriately and inappropriately concludes the work. It does so appropriately, by using the symbol of the braiding of the hair to start and end the book. Page 3 “Mom has earlier spent twenty minutes pulling my frizzy hair into a herringbone braid….” All throughout the book the braiding of the hair is passed on from “mother” (Aunt Ida) to mother (Christine), to daughter (Rayona). In a way, it also ends the book well because in the end of Ray’s point of view Christine speaks about the end of the world and how she lost hope when it didn’t happen. In Christine’s point of view she also speaks about the "judgment day", and on Aunt Ida’s point of view, she also ends it with the "judgment day. " So in a way, Dorris appropriately ends the book.
Dorris however, in my opinion, ends the book inappropriately because he doesn’t in a way finish Aunt Ida’s point of view. In all the other points of view, Dorris goes beyond of finishing the last one, for example in Rayona’s point of view Dorris finishes, by Ray meeting with her mother .“Mom considers this…” Dorris ends Christine’s point of view by both in way fixing her and Aunts Ida relationship and doing way more than just meeting Rayona. “The driver’s door opened and Rayona swung in…” He ends Aunt Ida’s point of view by not sort of fixing her and her “daughter’s” relationship and by ending her point of view on “judgment day”. In my opinion, that point of view should have had more like the others, which is why the ending of the book was both inappropriately and appropriately finished.

[Sharon]

Sharon Manosalva

In "A Yellow Raft in Blue Water" written by Michael Dorris, the novel concludes with one of the main characters, Aunt Ida, describing the motions of her hair while she is braiding it, (Page: 372) "As a man with cut hair, he did not identify the rhythm of three strands, the whispers of coming and going, of twisting and tying and blending, of catching and of letting go, of braiding." The author ending the novel with the braiding of Ida's hair I would have to say was completely appropriate for the conclusion of the work, though at first it might seem that the novel comes off as inconclusive or to cease without any closure, one must not merely gaze upon the surface of the last words spoken, but to look deeper and come to an understanding. Throughout the novel it is very easy to catch key elements here and there that aid in the comprehension of the ending of "A Yellow Raft in Blue Water", such as that just like those three strands of hair being woven into a braid, there are three main characters, three different stories that come together to form one. The braiding of the hair though vaguely scattered throughout the novel, plays a significant role in who these three main characters are; Rayona, Christine, Aunt Ida, and how in the end they all come together, (Page 237) "Turn around to me, I said. "I'll braid you." So, the braid at the end is not merely just any regular braid, it is a symbol for the unity between these three women; three generations. Which is why the ending of the book was appropriately finished.

[Erin]

Erin Gallo
In the novel “A Yellow Raft in Blue Water”, Michael Dorris ends the book appropriately in symbolizing the faith these three women, Aunt Ida, Christine and Rayona hold, as well with signifying the braids. Primarily, all three girls where described when they were at the age of fifteen; Rayona in this case was presently fifteen but unlike the rest of stories being parallel in time, these stories were different. When Aunt Ida was fifteen she took in Christine as stated by Clara “Aunt Ida would bring the baby home” (pg.320); Aunt Ida prevented Christine from going into adoption but it was not exactly what she wanted as she stated “I had a vision of my life resumed intact, no gossip, no delays, no shame” meaning her visions of life were all of what she did not want and her future was interrupted. Then, when Christine was fifteen she “was snared by her innocence, by her belief in the wonders of any kind, by her conviction that her life mattered.” (Pg.368) this was because of the Portugal letter and at such a young age “Christine took responsibility for the universe.” (Pg.368). Although, there is a twist; while Rayona is fifteen obstacles come in her way such as the Father Tom incident on the Yellow Raft and she stands tall, as if she was the faith within the three women. The author not only ends the generation with a success but then finishes it off with the braids that play a huge role through the novel. In the beginning of the text, Rayona mentions “Mom has earlier spent twenty minutes pulling my long frizzy hair into a herringbone braid…” and then in the end of the text Aunt Ida braids her hair, the repetition of the braid emphasizes the beginning and end as well with their Indian culture. Overall, the author did a profound job at appropriately ending the book.

[Luis]

Luis mentado
In “A Yellow raft in Blue Water”, Michael Dorris appropriately concludes the work due to the fact that he connects all three story lines through one significant action - the braiding of the hair. Dorris starts the book by talking about Rayona’s hair that is being braided by Christine (pg. 3), only the start of the braid is talked about. Later in the book during Christine’s part, Christine is depicted giving a braid to Rayona half way through (pg.237), this symbolizes Christine and her part in the work since she is the second point of view given hence the middle step of the braid. At last, Ida is depicted giving herself a braid (pg. 372), this expression of her braiding is the finalization of the book, first with Rayona’s braid starting then with Christine being depicted halfway through Rayonas braid later in the work and now finally in Idas part. A sort of order is given even though there never war, the book starting with Rayona then going onto Christine and then finalizing with Ida, just like the braid. The braid signified the different point of views and stages in the book. This all appropriately concludes the work since even though there is no real closure, the braids beginning middle and end with each part of the book give the reader a sense of finalization.

[Erica]

Erica Sarria

In the novel “A Yellow Raft In Blue Water” by Michael Dorris, the ending is ESSENTIAL to conclude the entire novel as a whole. The conclusion of the novel is kind of like a metaphor to the whole book, it ends with both ida and christine sitting on the roof while ida braids christine’s hair. In order to make a braid you must take three strands of hair and tie all three in. The author is essentially trying to explain how Rayona, Christine, and Ida all tie in to make an outstanding novel. All three characters are essential to create one spectacular novel. In reality there is not ACTUAL closure but the braiding of the hair is kind of like a finalization, giving the reader that sense of closure but in reality its not entirely there.

[Tajae]

In the novel "A Yellow Raft In Blue Water" by Micahel Dorris, the ending of a story may determine the outcome throughout everything, meaning what happens in the beginning, middle, and end will all be summed up during the conclusion. Precisely with A Yellow Raft In Blue Water with the beginning starting with Rayona with her mother Christine, a heavy drinker, in the hospital which seems to be that Christine got injured. Throughout the course of the story it is shown that Rayona is trying to connect with her family but feels detached like the need to not. Toward the end it is shown that Christine tried to break into a car and eventually gets in and willingly admits to crash it to benefit Rayona. But ending up moving to her reservation in Montana, all the factors throughout the story is summed up into one conclusion.

[Gerardo]

In the novel "A yellow raft in blue water", the ending suitably brings the story to a close. The final act of braiding Christine's hair meant that the final conflict was finally resolved and these two generation of women were finally at peace. Seeing as how the story was told in the perspective of three generations of women and their struggles to connect with each other on an emotional level, the braiding of Christine and Rayona's hair properly symbolized the connection they have achieved.

[Brandon]

Brandon Ficher
In “A Yellow raft in Blue Water”, Michael Dorris appropriately concludes the work by intertwining the three plot lines of these women into one symbolic item, a hair braid. These braids are referenced in the beginning, middle, and end of the novel, and effectively closes the novel. It ends with both Ida and Christine sitting on the roof while Ida braids Christine’s hair. The braiding of the hair though vaguely scattered throughout the novel, plays a significant role in who these three main characters are. Also illustrating how in the end they all come together.

[Natalie]

Natalie Roque
A Yellow Raft in Blue Water written by author Michael Dorris concludes with the description of braids being woven in Ida's hair. This specific act can be considered as symbolic in the sense that the braid, or the three strands of hair, aids in representing the three generation of women: Rayona, Christine, and Ida. The complicated and messy family issues surrounding these three characters ultimately affect their lives and actions and eventually every turning point in the story goes back to the beginning. The reference to the braids serves as an illustration of the different parts and point of views presented by the women and coming back together to form a family unit of some sort where all of their stories and struggles join together and become one, each with their individual frustrations and emotional distress.

[Aaron]

Aaron Chichester
In "Love Medicine", written by Michael Dorris, the book is ended magnificently. The novel concludes with the act of Ida braiding her hair. This braid, which has made multiple appearances throughout the book, symbolizes the many conflicts between Rayona, Christine, and Ida. The braid, made of 3 strands is used to identify each character as a strand and represents the many problems between the characters. In essence, they all become one in that braid. Aunt Ida describes the act of braiding as: "...the rhythm of three strands, the whispers of coming and going, of twisting and tying and blending, of catching and of letting go..." Ultimately, this conclusion is appropriate.

[Paola]

Paola Badiloo
A "Yellow Raft in Blue Water" written by Michael Dorris has concluded with Ida's narration as she expressed the motion of her hair while she is braiding it (page 372) "As a man with cut hair, he did not identify the rhythm of three strands the whispers of coming and going of twisting and tying and blending of catching and letting go of breading." Michael Dorris did right by ending "Yellow Raft in Blue Water" with this symbolization of unification. If you further analyze, it will come to mind that the braiding of three strands of hair is a symbolization of the three narrations. Ida is narrating the last chapter that concludes with this quotation. The three strands of hair symbolize Rayona, Christine and Ida as they unite for the conclusion of the novel.

[Solange]

The conclusion of "A Yellow Raft in Blue Water" is appropriate for the novel. As the reader knows, it finalizes with the braiding of the hair. As most of us knows to braid hair we must have three separate hair sections. Each section represents the individual characters Rayona, Christine, and Ida. Although these hairs are separated them unite into one in order to create the braid, this is why the scene is symbolic. The hair braiding is found throughout the novel, serving a significance in all three women's life. The hair braiding can be seen a resolution because in the end Rayona received a better understanding of Christine and Christine received a better understanding of Ida. All finally coming together in harmony.

[Speedy]

Michael Dorris’s novel, “A Yellow Raft in Blue Water”, is one that does not have a typical ending in which everything just stops. On the contrary, the writer effectively ties the three individual perspectives from the book with a symbolic braid done by Ida (page 372). The braid, which consists of three groups of hair, can easily be seen as each part being one of the narrators. By being braided together into one, it reflects the important role each character played to the overall power and meaning of the book, suggesting that the book being without one of the perspectives would be incomplete. This motif of the part is not greater than the whole but the whole is incomplete without the part is reflected throughout the text as the tradition of hair braiding is passed on, just as Jaryi Santos mentioned. Furthermore, ending the novel at the scene following Christine’s disassociation with trust feels like one is restarting the cycle since we are aware of what happens after. This retelling from such a far back standpoint allows for the reader to go through from the true beginning with Ida recollecting the events all the way up to Rayona to finally connect the final piece of the puzzle. So, overall, the writer appropriately concludes the novel through Ida’s eyes with an opening for remembrance by the audience.

[Xayanjely]

Xayanjely Lopez
"A Yellow Raft in Blue Water" had a well composed concluding as a result of ending the book exactly how it began. The action that is seen a variety of times (including the beginning and the end) is braiding. This act is done to emphasize the importance of tradition and wanted to remind the reader of tradition in his closing sentences. It is an appropriate ending considering the fact that each character went through the same amount of battles which they had to overcome on their own in order to move on with their journey.

[Crystal]

Crystal Verdecia

Michael Dorris creates an appropriate ending for “A Yellow Raft in Blue Waters” by ending the book with the braid scene which is also starts the novel. The braiding scenes are important because it symbolizes the three generations of the Native women lives- Rayona, Christine, and Ida. Dorris goes into each of these main characters’ lives, describing their feelings and thoughts and their struggles that they’ve encountered. As the “braiding” continued it represented the three women slowly coming together and realizing how they’re not so different after all. The ending shows the reader how they become understanding of each other lives and bond together. Dorris ending the novel with the symbol is very appropriate because it basically tells the read how these women’s lives started separate from each other then slowly coming together until they combined as one and live in peace with each other.

[Bryan]

The ending of “A yellow Raft in Blue water” ends with Dorris describing once again the symbol of the braids. The braids in a way are similar to the novel all together. The braids signify the three characters, and putting their stories together as one, as the way the author the story wrote the novel in the perspective of the three characters. The novels ending shows the reader all three coming together, just like the way you would connect braids together. The author appropriately concludes the novel because readers gets to see the true purpose in seeing a story told by three different characters. Even though readers are shown different emotions and ideas by the characters, they get to see all those stories put together as one, and how each event affected one and another, becoming one full story. So ending the novel with the braids concludes with readers seeing the family as one and not just fully individuals.

[Amlex]

Amlex Bencosme

In "A Yellow Raft on Blue Water," author Michael Dorris finalizes the novel in a way most people will either love and understand its symbolism, or hate as it does not give the traditional ending. However, I believe that its multi-leveled meaning beautifully ends this novel of pain, disconnection, and acceptance. The book ends in Aunt Ida's narration as she sits on the roof of her house on a dark night with Father Hurlburt. She braids her hair and points out that Father Hurlburt wouldn't understand the weaving and unweaving of the strands. This ending eloquently ties in the final image of the Native American women who have once been separated, viewing life from different perspectives and blinded by the truth that they encountered the same struggles yet never reached out to one another. Once the strands are intertwined, forming a braid that represents the whole story. As the end is told in Ida's narration, one is able to experience the union of he members though who seemed to be the origin of the family's problems. The ending is appropriate, eloquent, and different as it ends the book while in the past tense, but it gives the audience a last look at the once fragmented family and reflect on the journey they were part of.