Dean Williams is dealing with a person vs. society conflict in his story. First, he is bribed by a well known man to seduce and sleep with a wealthy black man in order to blackmail this person to buy his land from him. While collecting what is owed to him, Dean realizes that Percy lied to him and ends up getting assaulted by Percy’s sons. Even though Dean is white, he is still ostracized for being gay. Second, people will not accept Dean because of his sexuality and his known reputation; which sleeping with other men. It would make life more difficult if people found out that Dean and Ray were having an affair. Dean, a poor white man and Ray, a rich, land owning black who is married with children. Society dosen’t accept either one because of Dean’s sexuality and Ray’s ethnicity. Even in the story when Ray asked Dean who he loves, Dean replies with: “Who loves me is the real question. Don’t nobody give a shit about me. My mama, maybe.” Dean knows that he is not accepted by many people because of his sexuality. A hint of this knowledge comes from the relationship with his father which is briefly mentioned in the story. There wasn’t much of one probably because Dean’s father knew that Dean was gay and did not love and accept him. After confronting Percy about the botched up bribe, he realizes that no one will believe him if he told anyone about this ordeal and no one will care: “And who the fuck would believe you?”

The most important in the story that stood out was the blankets Ayah used especially Jimmie’s blanket. Jimmie is Ayah’s son that passed away. The reason why is because not only do they keep her warm during cold nights but in a way she is in close close content with her culture and her son. Ayah thinks that her son did not die, he just did not come back to her. All of her memories with her son are in that blanket and the blanket comforts her in times of sadness and discomfort. Another reason is to be able to sustain and continue her culture. With many external factors trying to take, hide, or destroy her culture, those blankets that her, her grandmother, and mother have made keep the culture alive. It also helps her not forget where she came from. When other children were taken away from her, they forgot their language and specific details of their culture so in a way Ayah’s own children have become strangers to her. There are other symbols like the clothing she wore and even the house that she used to live with her mother and grandmother but the blankets seemed the most important. In the story the author writes: “The blankets her mother made were soft and woven so tight that the rain rolled off them like birds’ feathers.” The blankets were a way to protect her from physical and emotional factors; not even the snow could freeze her, she would be able to stay warm. When thinking about Jimmie, she doesn’t think of him as dead and she doesn’t become sad. To Ayah, Jimmie is alive in her memory through his blanket given to him at birth. Blankets are really important in Native American culture; it is a source of protection. In the story the author wrote: “She felt peaceful remembering. She didn’t feel cold any more. Jimmie’s blanket seemed warmer than it had ever been.”

Thanks for joining me!

Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. — Izaak Walton