Cultural Relationships and Diversity in Once More to the Lake and The Way to the Rainy Mountain Essay

Comparison essays focus on two or more scenarios and try to weigh them regarding their similarities as well as their differences. There are two stories. The first story is "Once More to the Lake" by E.B. White. Here, the author is seen somewhere in his recreation activities with the birds sounding their sweet memories as usual. He is doing the same thing that he was doing with his father and now with his son. He is quick to notice that there has not been too much change. The second story is "The Way to the Rainy Mountain" by Scott Momaday. The story is on the myths and cultures of the people of Kiowa. At some point, voices are heard, and the sounds represent different aspects of culture as presented in the story. The two stories showcase similarities in cultures as well as their diversity all based on the authors.

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One of the similarities that characterize the two stories is that they are narration stories. Sometimes, it happens that an author is reporting a story that was being narrated to a particular audience by a particular individual. Things are however different in these two stories. First, White is narrating the experience that he has had this far from the time he was a young boy. He says that they used to go the river to fish and for fun in the days of his father (White 194). From his narration, his father must have done the same with his grandfather as well. The author has exhaust-fully used the art of narration to convey his message. At the same time, Momaday narrates his ordeal with the rainy mountain in the village of Kiowa. He recalls how he left the mountain long ago and now has to come back to visit the grave of his grandmother (Momaday 145). Through his narration, we get to understand more about the origin of the occupants of the region and the history behind it. Momaday as well utilizes narration to air his view to the readers instead of reporting a told story.

Additionally, the stories are similar in that they touch on the right side of nature. Directly from the titles, it is evident that the two authors appreciate nature as being part of the society. While Momaday has focused on the mountain, white has focused on the lake. Momaday has gone further to include the term rainy in his title. Numerous cases of human invention characterize the world, but up to date, none has been able to meet the natural features that make the environment beautiful. Perhaps, the features were used in the stories to showcase the pride of the community or maybe to market those respective areas so that people could be attracted to visit. However, it is hard for this to be the case as the word have been used metaphorically. Regardless, it is important to recognize the power of words used in literature. There must have been a literal as well as the actual meaning.

Similarly, the authors have focused primarily on the cultures of society. Even though Momaday left the land of his origin, he remembers to return home. From a cultural setup, it is always advisable that regardless of the distance, one has to find time to go and bury their beloved ones. It seems he never managed, but then he is seen going to visit the grave. It is a sign of respect, and after all, it is a path that every human being has to pass through. The fact that manages to go back to the mountain show that the Kiowa society has its practices that are passed from one generation to another. White's case is no different. While he was young, they used to go down to the lake to spend some time with his father. He finds himself doing the same things that they were doing at the lake with his father with his son Joel. This shows that the author appreciates cultural practices and the impact they can have in the society. The lake, in this case, is used as a symbol of other cultural beliefs that existed in the traditional societies. The fact that the lake is in the same condition as it was during the time they used to visit with the father can be used to mean that the cultures of the societies have to be preserved left right and center. The two stories have greatly emphasized the importance of culture.

On the same note, the authors have witnessed death and have accepted it as a part of their cultures. On the first occasion, White is seen down in the lake with his son. There and then, he sinks into deep thoughts. He is thinking of the conditions that his father passed away and how time has moved fast. He sees himself aging and thus he is aware that one day one time, his time too will come. Momaday has lost a grandmother and is going back to the mountain to visit her grave. The act of the author going back to his grandmother's grave shows that he is aware that death is real and is part of the society. At the same time, it is hard to ignore the importance of family ties as demonstrated by the two gentlemen. The fact that white takes his son to the lake show that there is a strong bond between the two. The same case applies to the other party who goes to the grandmother's grave. Families are an important part of everyone's life, and thus it is good to celebrate them while they breathe because and the day will come.

On the other hand, the two authors differ in several ways. While White is busy narrating his life experience, Momaday is deep into the false beliefs of his society. White describes the situation where they used to go to the lake with the father and the things they used to down there. Amazingly, they are the same things that he is seen doing with his son. This means that he is in a reflective mood of the good old days with his father. It is a personal experience. On the latter's part, he talks of issues that he has never seen by himself. Issues like the origin of the society and the wars that existed with the Native Americans must have been pieces of history to them. "Her forebears came down from the high country in western Montana nearly three centuries ago" (Momaday 145). His arguments are based on history. White focuses on the current happenings in his life with little or no mythical beliefs. Momaday's story is a bit different. It is defined by myths meaning the society that he lives in must be over-relying on these myths. In normal circumstances, communities that have the myths being dominant are left behind in development matters.

Additionally, the two differ when it comes to upbringing. White grows up under the care of the father who they seem to be so close. In the case of Momaday, the picture is not clear on his life with his parents. However, based on the fact that he is seen to work at some place far away from home, means that he had less or no time for the family at all. White must have spent most of the time with his father, and that is the same that he is doing with his family. From the general view, it is easy to see that White has been brought up in a stable background as compared to the later. The difference in the lifestyles of the two shows the diversity that exists among human beings. We all cannot afford the flashy lifestyle, and thus every human must learn to leave within their means. It is all about being content with whatever is available.

Conclusion

Momaday and White are good authors who have demonstrated their prowess in literature. The two pieces of literature have several aspects in common that they share. Both authors use the art of narration to explain out their cases. At the same time, they have embraced nature and present the positive parts of their cultures. However, the two differ in the way of upbringing and the source of their stories. White narrates from personal experience while Momaday's narrative is based on the myths of society. Either way, the two stories have achieved their purpose.

Works Cited

Momaday, N Scott. "The Way to Rainy Mountain." The Arlington Reader: Contexts and Connections, 2nd Edition. Eds. Bloom, Lynn and Louise Smith. (2008): 145-150.

White, E B. "Once More to the Lake." The Arlington Reader: Contexts and Connections, 2nd Edition. Eds. Bloom, Lynn and Louise Smith. (2008): 194-199.