Archetypal Theory on Three Day Road

Introduction

Reading through the novel “Three Day Road”, I have discovered that there are various archetypal themes and characters that dwell in the story. In order to see these archetypes, I had to analyze the text and dig deeper because they were hidden. The characters that I found to have archetypal types of personalities were the three main characters: Xavier, who is the protagonist, Elijah, who is Xavier’s best friend, and Niska, who is Xavier’s aunt and also a protagonist.

Archetypal Theory on "Three Day Road"

From my understanding, Xavier shows the characteristic of an outcast and the hero. Since Xavier is the narrator, he likes to describe events, and while analyzing, I found that Xavier is similar to the Hero archetype because he stands for what is good while showing acts of courage. He also differentiates because he doesn’t feel the need to earn credit for doing good. A good example is when Xavier hears the other soldiers speaking, “’It’s Elijah that’s the killer,’ Grey Eyes says suddenly. ‘X just spots for him. Elijah told me how X threw up the first time he saw Elijah get a kill.’ …I leave without a sound so that they do not know I have been there, my ears hot” (Boyden, 2005, p. 88). He doesn’t let the enemy know that they are not correct, even if it affects his honor. This quote demonstrates how Xavier has a good mindset and is firm in his convictions of doing the right thing by helping Elijah defeat Germans. Another case of Xavier that this statement shows is that Xavier isn’t compelled by a sense of duty. He realizes that what the soldiers are trying to state is that Xavier is futile and Elijah doesn’t need him, yet he gives them a chance to accept what they need regardless of whether they don’t have the foggiest idea about the reality that without Xavier, Elijah would not have the strength to overcome Germans.

Elijah as the Trickster

Xavier is always portraying Elijah as the trickster when he regularly tricks the English-speaking soldiers with his fake dialect and accent, influencing it to appear as though he is one of them. The reason why I consider Elijah a trickster is his activities in the private school where he regularly escaped trouble by cajoling the nuns. Another basic thing Elijah does is speak like the soldiers to deceive and influence them to trust he is one of them. Elijah utilizes their intonation and vocabulary, for example, “’Dear Henry,’ Elijah says, ‘would you be a kind chap and make me a cup of tea?’” (Boyden, 2005, p. 125). This quote shows exactly how much of a trickster Elijah can be when speaking with the Englishmen. Although, when he speaks with Xavier, he is truthful, unlike when he talks to the Englishmen, it’s all lies and deceiving.

Niska as the Mentor and Magician

As indicated by her nurturing of Xavier and the way she uses spirituality to guide her, I imagine that Niska depicts the qualities of a mentor and magician. There were two statements that truly demonstrate a case of this in Niska’s character. The principal quote is when Niska describes how she taught Xavier when he was a kid, “I taught you [Xavier] all I knew about the bush, the best way to snare rabbits and how to use their fur for protection against the cold… what plants and herbs were edible and which had healing properties” (Boyden, 2005, p. 186). This statement implies that all Xavier knows and does would not be conceivable without the information that Niska gave him. Xavier’s mom was miserably depressed after her dad’s passing, and she put Xavier in a private school since she couldn’t deal with him. Niska protected him from the anguish that the school gave him and raised him to be the man he is. The second statement is from when Niska summons the spirits of wildlife in her tent. She says, “I asked him [the spirit] to go out and find the source of my hurt and extinguish it” (Boyden, 2005, p. 151). The core of her torment is the Frenchman that manhandled her, and after she asks for the spirits to encourage her, the Frenchman suspiciously kills himself. It is apparent that Niska has the ability to speak with extraordinary creatures, indicating that she embodies the magician archetype.

Theme of Lost Innocence

“Lost innocence” is a theme that is present throughout the entire book. The novel initially portrays how Elijah and Xavier were happy as young boys, meandering in the bush, having fun being children. As the book advances, Xavier becomes more depressed and dependent on morphine as a way to reduce his pain. Elijah also becomes dependent on morphine and turns mad as he can’t stop his hunger for killing. Elijah even goes so far as to scalp the men he kills to be recognized as the best sniper.

Comparison with "The Hunger Games"

“The Hunger Games” has the most relation with the book “Three Day Road” because of how similar the characters are. Firstly, Xavier is like Katniss, both being brave and standing for what’s right, and Niska is like Haymitch because they are both mentors. A typical model image in this book is the color black and the number three. The color black is used on nearly every other page while portraying people, animals, and objects. It represents death when soldiers cover themselves in it for disguise, and distress when Xavier gazes into the trapped animal’s eyes, which are depicted as black. The number three is significant in this book not just in light of the title, “Three Day Road,” but because of the number of times it appears in this novel. Three pages of the novel discuss the number three to present its importance in both the European-Canadians’ lives and the Cree’s. It’s hard to say what will happen as the book ends because of the way things happen so fast in their journey.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the novel “Three Day Road” masterfully intertwines various archetypal themes and characters, creating a rich tapestry of narrative and symbolism. Through the lenses of Xavier, Elijah, and Niska, readers are invited to explore the depths of heroism, trickery, and mentorship, as well as the profound theme of lost innocence. The novel's connection with “The Hunger Games” further highlights the universal nature of these archetypes, underscoring the timeless relevance of these themes in literature. As we delve into the complexities of these characters and their journeys, we are reminded of the enduring power of storytelling to illuminate the human experience.

References

Boyden, J. (2005). Three Day Road. Penguin Books.