assignment 2 final draft

Rochelle WaltonMarch 25, 2014Professor WaldenEnglish 1102

Introduction/ Background

Ever since I first saw Stephanie Meyer’s series, Twilight, I have

been infatuated with the idea of vampires andconcept of shape-

shiftingers. I have always loved learning about different Native

American tribes, being that my grandfather is Cherokee, and I

found it interesting how the Quileute tribe in the series believed

that they originated from wolves. In the series the Quileute were

and were even shape-shifters that turned into werewolves when in

the presence of danger or when enraged. They used their shape-

shifting ability for protection and to ward off the enemy, vampires.

I wanted to do some more research on the whole concept to get a

better understanding of it and to find out if that was really a myth

amongst that the Quileute tribe. I knoew that a lot of times writers

altered legends and myths to fit in with their storyline, so I wanted

to investigate first of all to see if the Quileute were a real Native

American tribe and secondly to see if this was really the legend

that they had in their culture. Is this really a Quileute myth? Did

they really believe that they originated from wolves? Do they

really believe they can shape-shift? Who or what created this

legend?

The way that the werewolves were portrayed in this series

stood out to me as well. Growing up, werewolves were always


depicted as a vicious animal that wreaked havoc and needed to be

feared. They changed during full moons and attacked innocent

people. However in Twilight, the werewolves were protectors and

defended the people. They didn’t shape-shift whenever there was a

full moon but rather more upon their choosing, their shape-shifting

to an extent was in their control. They shape-shifted whenever they

were angry, felt that they were in danger, or when they needed to

protect someone they love. In the last movie of the series, Bella,

one of the vampires, even entrusts her young daughter in the care

of Jacob, a werewolf in the Quileute tribe, while she goes off to

fight the Volturi (Stephanie Meyers 2013). The wolf in this work

wasn’t an enemy but a friend, looked at as family and part of the

community. Twilight switched things up a little and showed the

image of the wolf from a Native American point of view rather

than portraying it as a vicious beast. I decided to look into how the

werewolf has been view across cultures and how the way they’ve

been viewed has evolved over the course of time.

Literature Review

Before we can trace the evolution of the werewolf across cultures

and through time, we must first know and understand the terms

used by some specific cultures when involving wolves. The first

term is shape-shifter, also known as skin-walker to certain cultures.

Rochelle Walton, 03/24/14,

Find a better way to word thesis.


Shape-shiftr is he term used by the Quileute tribe in Twilight. A

shape-shifter is a human who can transform into any animal that

he/she wishes and back into a human. Although shape-shifters and

skin walkers are not the exact same thing, they often get confused

for each other and are used interchangeably. Moonlight explains

in, Native American Werewolves, how Native American tribes

believe that man can transform into a wolf through shape-shifting.

The Navajo and Hopi tribe are common for the legend of skin-

walkers. However, in their myths these said skin-walkers are not

werewolves however, but witches. The Navajo tribe believes that

skin-walkers’ appearances are different from those who are not

skin-walkers. They have glowing eyes, black tongues, poisoned

souls, and hard skin that can’t be punctured by axes nor arrows.

The Navajo believe skin-walkers use mind control to make humans

harm or even kill themselves (Kelleher and Knapp 2014). They

believe that skin-walkers can read minds and imitate others voices

to lure people to them as well. The only way to get rid of a skin-

walker is to pronounce their whole name from behind them, and

three days later they will die from the wrong they have committed

(Neilson 2000). The Hopi is anotherother tribe that ismost

common for the myth, the Hopi, of skin-walkers. The Hopi tribe

believes that shape-shifting can be brought on by ceremonies


(Moonlight 2009). In many Native American cultures and

religions, a shape-shifter is a witch that can change its appearance

and take on animal characteristics. Almost all cultures have their

own shape-shifter story, but the most common story is the

werewolf. Other places such as Africa, India, and Egypt have their

own shape-shifters as well, using different animals common in

their land. Stypczynski in, Evolution of the Werewolf Archetype

from Ovid to J.K. Rowling, speaks on how the fascination with

shape-shifting has really evolved over the years. This concept has

crossed many cultures throughout history. It has been featured in

many pieces such as books, plays, and movies (Stypczynski 2008).

After understanding shape-shifting and skin-walkers next

you must understand exactly what a werewolf is and how it is

viewed in different cultures. A werewolf is a person who

transforms into a wolf. It is a mythical creature and usually

changes during a full moon. Werewolves are uncommon in Native

American tribes and the idea of werewolves differs from the idea

of shape-shifting in Native American legends. Werewolves are

extremely unlikely in Native American tribes but aren’t altogether

nonexistent (Neilson 2000). The Navajo and Hopi tribes have

myths that are common to werewolves, the skin-walkers, but these

skin-walkers are believed to be witches instead of wolves (Neilson


2000). The archetype of shape-shifter has evolved into a werewolf

over the years (Stypczynski 2008). The European belief of a

werewolf is a man shape-shifting into a human killing beast

howling at a full moon. Werewolves have been at the forefront of

people’s minds as something to fear when encountered. However

from the past to now the fear of werewolves has begun to die down

(Regal 2010).

Another term used when tracing the evolution of the

werewolf is totem. A totem is an animal or person who is believed

to have a spiritual power. The wolf is seen as a totem in Native

American tribes. The wolf is believed by Native Americans to be

the spirit of protection (Moonlight 2009). For Native Americans,

totems are an identification. A tribe will contain qualities that

correspond with the totem that they have. Some tribe s believe that

the wolf is a spirit which has the power to help the tribe as they

deserve it. Wolf dances and ceremonies are performed to call the

wolf spirit upon the tribe (Neilson 2000). We must also know a

little background about a specific tribe which sparked my interest

in this research as well and that is the Quileute tribe. The Quileute

tribe lives in Washington State on the reserve of La Push. There

are only about 750 tribal members left today. The Quileute tribe

wasn’t well known until Stephanie Meyer’s, Twilight Series,


brought acknowledgement to them. However the Quileute tribe

doesn’t hold the shape-shifting power that the series assigns to

them, their connection to wolves is similar. The tribe believes that

the wolves are their ancestors. According to their myths they came

from wolves not transform from them whenever they wish.

Quileute legends have characters that a lot of other cultures have

(Quileute legends 2014). Although the Quileute tribe does not have

shape-shifters they do believe that they originated from wolves.

According to their myth, Q’wati was walking through Quileute

land and saw that there were no people so he found two wolves

and turn them into the Quileute people (A-Cit 2010).

Entering the Conversation

Werewolves have played a role in entertainment since man has

been entertaining. They’ve played a part in legends, myths,

folklore, plays, shows, movies, books, etc. I think that it is safe to

say that they have been covered in every area of entertainment,

even down to Michael Jackson’s famous music video, Thriller.

Though society’s infatuation with werewolves has not changed, the

way that it views werewolves has. Cultures all over the world have

their own view point of what a werewolf is and how it interacts

with others. Every culture as its own feelings about how valuable

and important werewolves are. Most cultures view the werewolf as


a terribly dangerous creature, which is the most common way that

they are portrayed. However Native Americans have their own

viewpoint on wolves and werewolves dating back centuries. This

paper traces the evolution of werewolf mythology and their

cultural significance within society and how the wolf is being

falsely portrayed. More specifically we will explore how Native

American lore influences our present notion of werewolves and

compare Native views on wolves to the view that society has on

them today.

Twilight to an extent depicts a Native American view point

on wolves as far as showing the love and respect for the wolf and

seeing it for the true animal it is, although it tweaks a few aspects. I

feel that if any source of entertainment or media is going to use a

myth or legend from a culture along with the name from that said

group, everything portrayed should be accurate. I would be

offended and upset if someone was falsely displaying what I

believed, especially since people are so easily influenced and

believe all that they see and read.

This whole idea of man transforming into a beast has been

featured in pieces from Shakespeare to J.K. Rowling (Stypczynski

2008). The archetype of shape-shifting has evolved into the

infamous werewolf over time. Werewolves have shown themselves


to be the highlight of many stories, legends, and myths all

throughout history.

The wolf is as a totem in many Native American Cultures.

Native American and Celtic cultures see the wolf as a way to find

the deepest level of one’s self (Woolcott 2014Wolf, Power

Animal, Symbol of Wildness, Social and Family Values). In

today’s society, the image of a wolf howling at the moon is

interpreted as a man transforming into werewolf and becoming

something to fear but in the Native American and Celtic culture,

this represents an inner knowing and understanding of one’s self.

Native Americans hold a great respect for wolves. They try

to learn and imitate the hunting skills that wolves have and the use

wolf packs to teach their children how to mate and be one with

others within the tribe, sticking together, and both the mother and

father raising the child (Neilson 2000). Werewolf Beliefs among

Native Tribes of North America). The idea of the wolf mating once

for life is respected by Native Americans. These cultures actually

see the wolf for what it is rather than how it is portrayed in media.

Wolves are intelligent, gentle animals that express themselves

through body language. They are strong and courageous and.

Wolves teach the Native Americans to face their fears. In Ina

Woolcott’s, Wolf, Power Animal, Symbol of Wildness, Social and


Family Values she talks about the wolf’s medicine which is death

and rebirth. Wolves face death with dignity and courage and teach

the Native Americans to do the same. (Wolf, Power Animal,

Symbol of Wildness, Social and Family Values). On top of seeing

the wolf for these physical, visible attributes, some Native

Americans see it on a spiritual level. In Many Native American

cultures the wolf is seen as a spirit of protection. Other tribes

believe that the wolf is a spirit with powers that will assist them as

they deserve it (Werewolf Beliefs among Native Tribes of North

America). . For Native Americans, totems are an identification.

Tribes contain qualities that correspond with the totem that they

have. The wolf is used by the Shamans to travel the dead and

living world. They believe that it helps them heal the sick and gain

spiritual information. Wolf dances and ceremonies are used to call

upon the wolf spirit to bless them when they go hunting (Neilson

2000Werewolf Beliefs among Native Tribes of North America).

In society today, however, instead of looking at the wolf as

a totem to bless hunting, it is seen as something to hunt.

Ceremonies aren’t performed to welcome it but measures are put in

place to shun it. In movies, books, plays, etc. the wolf and or

werewolf is chased out of villages and towns. Precautions are put


in place to make sure that the wolf does not return and if it does,

the people in the area are ready to attack and kill it.

The Quileute tribe has a great love for wolves in a physical

and spiritual aspect. even goes as far as to believe that they

originated from wolves. There are only about 750 members left in

the Quileute tribe (Quileute LegendsA-Cit 2010). The tribe resides

in Washington on the reserve of La Push, which was featured in

the Twilight series. Although in Twilight the Quileute tribe is full

of shape-shifters, the Quileute don’t believe that they are shape-

shifters, they believe that their ancestors were wolves. The

Quileute tribe believes that they originated 10,000 years ago, back

during a time when animals could talk (The Real Quileute Tribe

LegendOmaneser 2010). Legend has it that Q’wati was walking

through Quileute land and saw that there were no people. He found

two wolves so he said that they would be the first people and

transformed them into humans (Quileute Legends, Myths, and

Folklore). So, although they believe that their ancestors

transformed from wolves, they don’t believe that they can shape-

shift into them. Learning this, I felt that it was wrong for media to

take cultures’ legends and change them to fit the theme that they

are trying to create. It may seem harmless but in reality it is falsely

publicizing someone’s history, misrepresenting what they believe,


and drawing attention to something that isn’t all together true. The

whole concept that their ancestors were wolves transformed into

humans has somehow accumulated this whole idea of shape-

shifting with in Stephanie Meyers’ Twilight. La Push has gained

many more tourist since the Twilight series. People are excited to

come see Jacob and his shape-shifting tribe (Quileute LegendsPBS

2012). However when they get there that is not what they are going

to find.

Although the Quileute don’t believe in shape-shifting other

Native American tribes do. The most common Native American

tribe that believes in this transformation is the Navajo tribe (Native

American Werewolves | WerewolvesMoonlight 2009). The Navajo

believe in skin-walkers. Skin-walker is another term for shape-

shifter which is a man who transforms into an animal and takes on

the characteristics of that animal. The Navajo also use the Native

American word yeenadlooshi which means, “He walks on all

fours”. Navajos believe that skin-walkers’ appearance is different

than non-walkers. They are believed to have glowing eyes, their

tongues are black that represent the poison in their souls, and their

skin is so hard that it can’t be punctured by axe or arrows. The

Navajo believe that skin-walkersSkin-walkers are believed to have

the ability to read minds and mimic the cries of loved ones so that


they can lure them closer. The Hopi tribe also believes in shape-

shifters. They believe that shape-shifting can be brought on by

shape-shifting ceremonies where the person wears the skins of the

animal they want to become (Native American Werewolves |

WerewolvesMoonlight 2009). The only way to get rid of a skin-

walker is to say their whole name behind their back and then

within three days they will die from the wrong that they committed

(Neilson 2000Werewolf Beliefs among Native Tribes of North

America).

In other Native American legends and religions, skin-

walkers are witches who can alter their shape into whatever animal

they wish and take on its characteristics. Almost all cultures have

their own shape-shifting myth. Indians have were-tigers, Egyptians

have were-hyenas, and African have were-jackals and were-

leopards. However they all of these myths have the same root of a

human able to transform into animals. But of all the shape-shifting

legends the most common and well known legend is the werewolf

(Kelleher and Knapp 2014).Skinwalkers - What Are They?).

Now skin-walkers are not necessarily a werewolf but the

Navajo and Hopi myths about skin-walkers are probably the

closest thing to the werewolf stories in society today.

So What?


The idea of wolves and werewolves have been at the front of

people’s minds as something g to fear (Where Have All The

Werewolves Gone?).Regal 2010). Wolves today are misunderstood

and portrayed as thewith characteristics opposite of their true

character and behaviors are taken out of context.what they truly are

I believe that wolves are sweet gentle creatures. They travel in

packs representing their love and devotion to family. Like anyone

and any creature you protect the ones you love and that’s what

wolves do. When they feel threatened or hunted they attack, which

is what should be expect. We as intellectual beings should stop

believing everything that we see in media. We are the ones who

take the idea of a werewolf and run with it. We are the ones who

don’t look into things before we take them as facts. And we are the

ones who hunt and attack wolves for fear of them. Doesn’t that

make us the beasts? They are presented in the media as dangerous,

hateful animals, but in reality they are friendly and loving. They

have great qualities and characteristics. Story tellers have just

twisted the history of the wolf throughout myths to make for a

juicy story to intrigue the people of this generation who live for

fear. We should look at them from the view point of Native

Americans. Now I am not saying hold them up in reverence and

respecting them as a totem, but seeing them for what they really


are, trying to find their true character. So before you just believe

whatever you see in the media, do a little of your own research.

You may just be surprised and intrigued by what you find.

Stephanie Meyers

Stephanie MeyersTwilight

Serie

TwilightSeries


Native American Tribes:

Quileute

Navajo


Hopi

Twilight’s Quileute Legend: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uFojLM2bK3E

The Quileute Legend: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3fi2ge2m1w

s

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3fi2ge2m1w

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uFojLM2bK3E

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