BIBLIOGRAPHY
Bruchac, Joseph. 1995. Gluskabe and the Four Wishes. Ill. by Christine Nyburg Shrader. New Work, NY: Cobblehill Books. ISBN 0525651640
PLOT SUMMARY
In this retelling of Gluskabe and the Four Wishes, Gluskabe is introduced as the being who defeated the beast that tried to keep all of the world’s water for himself. He is the one who made the larger animals smaller and less threatening to humans. When Gluskabe became satisfied that he had done enough to make the world into a better place for his descendants, he sailed away to a distant island in a great lake. It was said that any man who sought Gluskabe and found him would be granted a single wish.
Four men of the Abenaki tribe decide to seek out Gluskable. One is a man who longs for material wealth for he has little by way of worldly possessions. One is a man who longed to be the tallest man on Earth. One man is afraid of death and wants to live forever. The final man has an unselfish wish of becoming a great hunter so that his family and village will never go hungry. They cross the great lake and surpass four obstacles before reaching Gluskabe. When they arrive, Gluskabe greets them and agrees to grant their single wishes. Each man tells Gluskabe his desire, and Gluskabe gives each man a pouch, instructing them not to open it until they return to their respective dwellings.
The men part ways and each begin their journey home. The man who wished for material wealth sails home in the canoe given to him by the man who wished to live forever. The man cannot resist the allure of the pouch and opens it while still at sea. The material objects he wished for pour from the pouch and fill the boat to its capacity. The boat is so overweight that it sinks, and the man, tangled in his new possessions, sinks with it. The man who wished to be the tallest man on Earth also cannot resist opening the pouch before he arrives home, and so opens his pouch. He is transformed into a pine tree, taller than any man. The man who fears death also opens his pouch before the instructed time and is transformed into a boulder, its structure eternal.
The last man whose wish was unselfish does not open his pouch until he is inside his home. He finds the pouch empty, but knowledge floods him. He hears the voices of the animals and learns their ways and how to respect them. He becomes the greatest hunter among his people, never greedy and always respectful; his family and village are always well-fed. His unselfish gift is the best of all.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Joseph Bruchac created his written version of the oral tale of Gluskabe and the Four Wishes by collecting and studying four different versions of the story. The work he’s created is a well-written piece that is easy to follow, the words corresponding with the images on each page, which makes for a tale that can be easily read aloud to younger and older audiences alike.
The author/illustrator uses oil paint; the color mixtures and hazy, indefinite lines give the work a surreal quality and lend to the mysterious nature of a tale about a journey into the unknown and back again. There is no set time period for this story, but the opening words of the tale start with Creation, so audiences can safely infer that, like other traditional tales, this story takes place, “Once upon a time.” The mixture of darker, heavier colors at the beginning of the work emphasizes the mysterious nature of Gluskabe and his midnight departure from the human world. The darker blues and smoky grays are also used for the journey the four men undertake to reach Gluskabe, further giving the readers a sense of danger and unknown elements. The men are leaving what they know and venturing to the far away island of a great being who is a divine hero to their people. The journey is so perilous and rarely undertaken that this great being is willing to grant a wish to any man who dares to seek his counsel.
The men face four obstacles, and each of the four men takes a turn at solving the problems they meet. They all display intelligence and bravery and work together as a unit to reach the island. While traveling through the misty unknown together, none of the men display selfish behavior, so we are reminded through the story-telling of the men with selfish wishes. The author’s repetitions of the wishes of each man become the embodiment of each man, and their wishes become their names. When the men finally reach the island, they are greeted by the white-haired Gluskabe who is a wizened man in comparison to the still dark-haired young men who have come to visit. The painting of great Glusake spans over two pages; he stands before a background of fog, holding the pouches he gives to the men. The steamy fog is used to obscure the setting of the island, furthering the mystery of a world beyond our familiar, human world.
When Gluskabe inquires about the wishes of each man, the man with the unselfish wish to provide food for his family and people holds his request for last. Gluskabe only offers this man a smile, before distributing the magical pouches that the men are not to open until they return home. Older children may view this smile as a hint of foreshadowing, for it seems that only this wish pleases Gluskabe. Perhaps, the selfish wishes of the other men will have unfavorable outcomes.
When the men depart the island and go their separate ways, the darker, heavier colors from earlier brighten and some yellows are used to present the shores, though the waters are still a murky gray, so that readers will not forget the element of mystery. Water is a universal symbol for creation, rebirth, change and mystery. The man who wished for material wealth sails home, and so, is still cloaked in the fog when he opens his pouch against instruction and is destroyed by his own wish, sinking into a watery grave with all that he’d wanted. The horrified expression on his face as he realizes what is happening to him leads the readers to believe that perhaps he understands the folly of his wish as he resigns himself to his fate. The only bright color used in this image is the golden light coming from the pouch Gluskabe had given the man. Perhaps, this is enlightenment come too late.
The man who wishes to be taller than any man is transformed into a pine tree. The image on the page uses bolder lines than what has been used throughout the story, the colors are blends of browns and green and an airy blue for the sky. The tree appears tall and strong, and it almost seems as if the reader must look up to glimpse the top of it from the angle it is painted. The man, though we can be sure this is not exactly what he had in mind, is pleased with the outcome of his wish, as it is stated that to this day pines grow tall and when the wind blows one can hear these trees bragging about how tall they are. Here we are presented with a myth to explain why pine trees grow so tall.
The next man who wished he could live forever also disobeys and opens his pouch too soon. He is transformed into a boulder, a part of earth and nature that will always be with us. His expression is serene, if not a bit solemn as he will have forever to think about his selfish wish.
The last man with the unselfish wish to become a better hunter to help his people follows instruction and waits until he returns home. He is engulfed in a spiritual experience where he is allowed to commune with the voices of the animals as if they are physically present. His is the gift of godly knowledge, an unselfish gift that one should use to help others, as Gluskabe once used his mysterious, godly abilities to help all of his descendants.
Through this story, readers will learn the importance of thoughtfulness, and putting the basic needs of others before your own desire; good things will happen for you. However, if you are selfish and seek to please yourself before others, you may not always receive what you want in the way that you want it. In other words, “Be careful what you wish for, you might just get it.”
REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
Bruchac (Thirteen Moons on Turtle's Back) combines several sources in telling this traditional Native American "teaching story." After making an arduous journey to visit Gluskabe, the Great Spirit's helper, four men are each granted a wish. Gluskabe gives each man a pouch, saying that it contains his heart's desire, but warns them not to open the pouches until they return home. The poor man who wishes for many possessions opens his sack while canoeing home, and so many things pour out of it that he drowns under their weight.The vain man who wishes to be taller is turned into a gigantic pine tree, and the fearful man who wants to live forever becomes a boulder. But the fourth man, a hunter who wishes only to be able to feed his people, waits to open his pouch, and receives "great understanding" of the animals. Plainly told yet suspenseful, the story breathes an easy authenticity. First-time illustrator Shrader's atmospheric if slightly muddy paintings convey some of the drama, but the exaggerated expressions of her characters undercut the conviction of Bruchac's narrative voice. Ages 4-8. –Publishers Weekly
Grade 3-6. Bruchac is a master storyteller, and his talent is amply displayed in this retelling of an Abenaki tale. Four men travel to the island where the legendary Gluskabe has concealed himself, each hoping to have a wish granted. One hopes for fine possessions while another, already tall, wants to be even taller. The third man wants to live forever, and the fourth wants to be a better hunter so that he can provide for his people. Gluskabe promises to grant their wishes and gives each a pouch, cautioning them not to look inside until they are home. Three succumb to temptation, and their wishes are granted in unexpected ways. The first man's canoe sinks beneath the weight of the things that pour out of his pouch; the second man is transformed into a tall tree; and the third changes into a boulder. The hunter does as he is asked, and the animals reveal their secrets to him. The text is lean and elegant, without an extraneous word, and the gentle, easy cadence lends itself to reading aloud; even the source note sings. The full-and double-page, muted, misty watercolors complement the text perfectly. Shrader gives each of the nameless men individuality, hinting in their features at the outcome. A worthy addition to any collection. Donna L. Scanlon, Lancaster County Library, PA—SLJ
Ages 4-8. With graceful insight, Bruchac retells this legend of his ancestors, the Abnaki peoples of New England. Gluskabe, a magical culture hero, bestows wishes upon those who visit his remote island. Four men make the journey: the first wishes for possessions; the second yearns to be taller; the third seeks immortality; and the last desires only to become a good enough hunter to feed his people. Gluskabe gives them their wishes in pouches that they are forbidden to open until they are home. Greedily, the first man opens his pouch in the canoe, which sinks under the weight of his new possessions; the second and third men meet appropriate fates, too; however, the last man, who waits, gains a great understanding and connection with animals, and from that day on, he is revered as "the best hunter among the people." Shrader paints with a quiet, earthy palette and offers settings that, fittingly, incorporate rather than showcase the human players. With no loss of entertainment value, the story is highly moral, eschewing selfishness and materialism in favor of selflessness and harmony with the natural world. An informative author's note discusses the derivation of the tale. Julie Walton—Booklist
CONNECTIONS
Other Native American folktales that teach morals and also expose children to more Native American myths familiar to various tribes are as follows. These stories can also be used to help children make connections between myths and the natural phenomena they were originally created to explain.
Bruchac, Joseph. 1998. The Earth Under Sky Bear’s Feet. New York, NY: Putnam. ISBN 978-0698116474
Bruchac, Joseph. 1998. The First Strawberries. Ill. by Anna Vojtech. London: Puffin. ISBN 978-0140564099
Bruchac, Joseph. 1997. Thirteen Moons On Turtle’s Back. New York, NY: Putnam Juvenile. ISBN 978-0698115842
Oughton, Jerrie. 1996. How the Stars Fell Into the Sky: A Navajo Legend. Boston, MA: Sandpiper Houghton Mifflin Books. ISBN 978-0395779385
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