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In Margret Laurence’s short story, The Loons, the two main characters lead vastly varying lives. Vanessa, a middle to upper class member of society, is very removed from the life that Piquette Tonnerre, the other main character, experiences.  The diction used for Vanessa suggests that she is a well-educated person. This is supported by the knowledge that her father is a doctor. When reading Vanessa’s narration, it gives the reader insight into the misunderstandings and preconceived notions that society (specifically the town where she lives) has towards Métis. At one point during the story, Vanessa’s family and Piquette are at Diamond Lake (where they owned a cottage) and Vanessa learns that Tonnerres, “the half breads,” are what she refers to as “Indians, or as near as [makes] no difference,” (Laurence 112).  This vibrantly displays the lack of sufficient knowledge regarding the Métis. Vanessa continually displays her naivety as well as an insouciant attitude towards Piquette.

            Piquette Tonnerre is a Métis girl that appears to be impassive and farouche. She took care of her family and also had tuberculosis of the bone. As a result she was often times unable to attend school. Her apparent lack of schooling is clearly displayed through her diction. When she speaks it comes across as dispirited and desolate. During the same visit to Diamond Lake as mentioned previously, Vanessa asks Piquette if she would like to play with her and Piquette responds dispassionately with, “I ain’t a kid,” (Laurence 112).  This phrase is an embodiment of her life, as Piquette was never given the opportunity to be a kid because of misfortune circumstances. Her retort also demonstrates the differences between her and Vanessa. While Vanessa is eager to explore and discover the world around her, Piquette lacks interest perhaps because she has been exposed to an unsympathetic world. Piquette’s evident sense of hopelessness and sullenness is continuous throughout the story with one exception. At one point Vanessa sees Piquette with filled with hope, however this is short lived. This adds to the contrast between Vanessa’s life and Piquettes anguished and tortured existence.

Image:

The above picture was created by the Métis artist, Ayla Bouvette. I chose this image as a symbolic representation of The Loons. In the story, the loons are used as a symbol for the Métis. The loons are descried as having a mocking and plaintive cry. At the end, Vanessa notes that Piquette "may have been the only one [..] who had heard the crying of the loons," meaning that the suffering that Piquette experienced as a Métis was expressed or shared by the loons (Laurence 120).

Works Cited:

Laurence, Margret. A Bird in the House.  Toronto: McClelland and Stewart Inc., 1963