Humans have issues with prejudice—whether it takes the form of bullying, stereotyping, or blatant racism. The thing about prejudice, though, is that it usually melts away with a little quality time together. Huck Finn and Jim or Opal and Gloria Dump can give us a little more insight on that.
So in The Sign of the Beaver, it's not surprising that Matt and Attean are both in for a perspective shift once they are forced to hang out. Matt learns to respect and understand Indian ways of life, and Attean learns to understand white customs while respecting Matt. There's a lesson in there for all of us: Get to know someone before passing judgment. You just might be surprised.
Questions About Prejudice
- Is Attean's hate for all white people and their customs justified?
- What lessons about prejudice does Matt learn from reading Robinson Crusoe with Attean?
- Which stereotypes does Matt believe about Indians? How are they proved right or wrong?
- Do you think Matt and Attean would have been friends if they'd both been from the same culture?
Chew on This
Attean's initial hate for white men is justified, based on his life experiences.
Though Matt holds plenty of stereotypes about Indians, he is more open than Attean to learning about different cultures.