Response to "Skunk Dreams"

I did not expect a story about a skunk to encompass metaphysical and controversial subjects. So when Erdrich posed her many questions with few answers, I was more than surprised. By the end of the article, I was just short of sure that Erdrich had an unhealthy obsession with a certain black and white mammal and that my brain was incapable of processing all of my questions. Regardless if Skunk Dreams is based entirely on Erdrich’s life, or if she fictionalized it, it was still a powerful read.

There were many striking lines in Skunk Dreams. The first that made me stop and think (beyond, “why is she sleeping in a football field?”) was, “We don’t know about the dreams of any other biota, and even much about our own.” I love topics like this that give readers a quick taste of thought. There’s much we don’t know, and Erdrich seemed determined to drill that into our heads. What are dreams? Is dreaming merely a human thing, or do other beings dream too? And of what? Should dreams give us hope for life after death?

I must agree with both Erdrich and Lund in their pursuit to answer that last question. I want something of myself to survive even after I’m six feet under, left for the worms—surviving in ways other than fertilizer, of course. I’m human. I’m selfish that way. In the words of Erdrich, “I want more”.

One very human thing is to beat and brood, to complain over what isn’t worth complaining about, and to sit oneself in the center of the universe. Everyday things like denting your parents’ car can seem devastating, but are just “minor, mere wisps, compared to skunk.” In the grand scheme of things, many “devastating” events are trivial. Even if everything appears horrible enough for you to sleep in a football field, many things won’t matter ten years from now, let alone ten days! At least, that’s what I got out of Erdrich’s description of a skunk’s perfume.

But some things will matter. There are obstacles in life we must overcome. Her inclusion of Adam Phillip's philosophy was awesome! I was happy to have it loop back to the dreaming and the obstacles Erdrich still had to face. "I was filled with poacher's lust, except I wanted only to smell the air." I love that line. Erdrich's walks through the captured wilderness were very peaceful and respectful--which I find refreshing. "Shooting animals inside fences, no matter how big the area they have to hide in, seems abominable and silly. And yet, I was glad for that wilderness." I agree. One thing I truly loved about this article was Erdrich's view on animals. Erdrich, to me, seems very caring towards animals and the environment, and I was happy to see her crawl through that fence.

Overall, it was a solid article. The vagueness and sudden jumps through time and thought could be irritating, but Erdrich's strong prose and views kept it all together. The final paragraphs sealed Skunk Dreams with, of course, skunks. Fitting. While at first startling, I can't find any reason to mock Erdrich's choice of skunk. That animal toddles through life without worry, so sure of itself, causing little detriment to others, and without fear of death. We could learn to do the same.