Abuse and Trauma

Over the course of Shadow Tag, Erdrich uses Gil’s violent and manipulative behavior to suggest that fear, egotism, and delusion lie at the heart of abuse. Although Gil’s abuse often manifests in clear, obvious forms (his violence towards Irene and the children, for example), he also causes enormous harm through emotional manipulation. In the wake of his violent acts, he often buys his family members lavish and expensive gifts. At one point, he resolves to “discover what Irene, and each of his children, even Riel, wanted most, what they coveted, what they thought they could never have… he would get these things for each of them—no matter how extravagant or difficult” (64). Here, Gil reveals his own delusional self-involvement. He believes that buying his family members “extravagant or difficult” (64) presents will rectify his violent behavior; in this way, he shows a deep...