The Medicine Bag
22 pages • 44-minute read
Virginia Driving Hawk SneveThe Medicine Bag
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Character Analysis
Martin
Martin is the protagonist of the story, and his primary function is to act as the lens through which the conflict between cultural identity and social pressure is explored. Because the story is told from his first-person point of view, his perception is limited and initially defined by immaturity and insecurity. His voice at the beginning is naïve and somewhat childish, particularly in the way he prioritizes appearances and the opinions of his peers. This limited perspective allows for the development of internal conflict as the driving force of the plot.
Through both direct and indirect characterization, Martin is shown to be deeply conflicted. He admits to feeling ashamed and embarrassed by his grandfather, especially when Grandpa arrives in the neighborhood looking frail and out of place. This experience forces Martin to confront the shame he feels about being different and, therefore, judged by those around him. Actions like avoiding showing his friends Grandpa’s picture and trying to keep them from meeting him demonstrate his internal bias. Ironically, Martin fears that his friends will judge Grandpa, but it is Martin himself who judges him most harshly.
At the same time, Martin takes pride in the cultural objects that his grandfather gives him, such as the leather drum. This contradiction points to a superficial connection to his heritage. He values its aesthetics but struggles to accept its deeper meaning. Martin’s character arc is therefore centered on evolving from this shallow appreciation to a more meaningful understanding.
Martin’s perspective changes when his friends react positively to Grandpa, and Connecting With Heritage and Culture suddenly feels possible. Their admiration challenges Martin’s assumptions and begins to shift his perspective. This moment is crucial because it exposes the gap between Martin’s fears and reality; he is ashamed of something that nobody else sees. The final stage of his transformation occurs when Martin accepts the medicine bag, showing growth and emerging maturity. This growth relates to the theme of The Link Between Masculinity and Ancestry, as Martin's receiving of the medicine bag is a symbol of his growth into male adulthood.
Joe Iron Shell (Grandpa)
Grandpa is the deuteragonist of the story. He is an archetypal figure within the narrative who represents the wise elder. He is an emblem of tradition and cultural continuity. Grandpa’s narrative function is to serve as both a cultural guide and a catalyst for Martin’s transformation, highlighting the theme of coming of age. Martin embodies internal conflict, and Grandpa represents stability and certainty.
Martin initially describes Grandpa in negative terms: “I saw how his gray hair straggled from under his big black hat, which had a drooping feather in its crown. His rumpled black suit hung like a sack over his stooped frame” (2). This description reflects Martin’s embarrassment rather than reality. The imagery emphasizes frailty and disarray, which adds to Martin’s discomfort. Sneve complicates this portrayal through indirect characterization; Grandpa’s strength is shown through his actions, particularly his physically demanding journey to visit his family and his dignified acceptance of his own life coming to an end.
Later in the story, Martin describes Grandpa again, but the tone shifts dramatically: “His hair lay in silver strands over the red shirt collar” (5). This contrast demonstrates how characterization is shaped by one’s emotional state and perspective. Grandpa himself has not changed; instead, Martin’s perception has evolved. Grandpa’s true nature is shown through his storytelling and interactions with others rather than through Martin’s initial descriptions.
Grandpa’s role as an archetypal elder is further reinforced through his storytelling, which relates to the theme of Connecting With Heritage and Culture. He passes down the history of the medicine bag in a formal, almost ceremonial manner. Grandpa has a clear and deep connection to his father and the Sioux people, and he hopes that even some small part of this will continue with Martin.
Grandpa’s instruction that Martin need not wear the medicine bag in the city shows his awareness of social contexts. He takes the burden of representation away from Martin, signaling that it’s okay for him not to present his cultural heritage to people who might not understand its importance. This nuance prevents him from being a one-dimensional symbol and instead presents him as a modern, insightful figure who balances tradition with practicality.
Cheryl
Cheryl is Martin’s sister and an important secondary character who functions as a foil for him in her response to Grandpa. Like Martin, she is of mixed European American and Sioux heritage, but she doesn’t have the same identity conflict that Martin does. Her personality also contrasts with Martin’s. While Martin is judgmental and fears judgment himself, Cheryl is characterized as compassionate and free of judgment. She is only 10 years old, but her acceptance and love for Grandpa is natural and unconditional. Cheryl and her friends’ positive attitude toward Grandpa angers Martin at first, but it foreshadows his friends’ acceptance of Grandpa and proves that Martin is the only one who finds his presence uncomfortable.
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