Borders by Thomas King - Essay Example

Biographical criticism of the short story, “Border”, is based on Thomas King’s life, thoughts as well as experience. It relates the story to King’s intentions and audience. In addition, the story gives a significant historical approach since the story reflects on the period in which Thomas King lived. Biographical Criticism In analyzing Thomas King’s work, “Border”, by biographical criticism, it is important to reflect on King’s experiences. Several aspects should be considered including family, education, culture as well as economic status and their effects on King’s work should be identified.

In addition, this analysis examines how the story portrays life experiences, psychological changes and personality characteristics. The biographical analysis of “Border” reveals a correlation between King’s life and the story. Principally, King’s family background or origin is reflected in the story. The story states that parents to Laetitia and her brother have different nationalities. Their father is an American citizen while their mother is a Canadian (King 136). On the other hand, King’s parents were Cherokee father and his mother from Greek.

Suggestively, this implies that Thomas King has referenced his background in the story. King has likened his parental background to that of Laetitia and her brother. . Discrimination is portrayed in the mother’s quest to cross the border with the objective of visiting her daughter Laetitia. In the conversations, boundary police insist on knowing the background of the mother based on either the Canadian or American citizenship. In addition, the mother and her son are neglected at the border following her affiliation to the Blackfoot tribe.

King asserts the existence of the judicial system. From the story, it is notable that the mother is liable to detainment and arrest if she fails to identify herself with either of the nationalities. King’s intentions for the story can be identified as portraying activities at the border, society’s ethics of equality and observance of individual rights as well as privileges. Primarily, King illustrates the operations that take place at the border, which include interrogation, declaration of citizenship and inspection for drugs as well as firearms (King 135).

Following the significant relationship between the mother and police, it can be argued that King seeks to support professional ethics stipulated in the police force. In addition, King promotes self-scrutiny, which requires individuals to break existing boundaries and indulge in proactive activities against discrimination (Davidson, Walton and Jennifer 86). The personality characteristic prominent in the story is pride. The young boy indicates that her mother and sister were full of pride (King 140).

Laetitia is acknowledged by her mother as being moral with well behaved. Her mother tells Mrs. Manyfingers that she left for a man as evidenced by her not being pregnant (King 131). In addition, the motherly love and affection for her daughter as well as son is