What Role Do Women Play in the Church and in the Tribe, from Father Damien’s Perspective? Explain

Erdrich’s use of trickster and protagonist, where Agnes transforms to Father Damien, is a clear representation of how women are misrepresented in the church and society. The book addresses the issues concerning gender sensitivity in accordance to spirituality where the woman’s capabilities are taken to be inefficient. This is especially true in religious matters. Agnes, taking the role of a male priest, is an indication that women could assume leadership and power in the church, too.

The author emphasizes on introducing Agnes, who, before taking Father Damien’s identity, was trying to figure out the meaning of sensuality. She was especially tempted to rediscover her identity as a woman beyond the societal and church expectations. The author uses the woman as body with The Holy Spirit inside to bring out the confessional expression of a creed of who we really are in the case of holding back what is inside us. On the same note, flesh can also be viewed as an aspect of emotional reality. This is evident in Agnes’s masquerading as a priest though she was female and later betrayed by her people on grounds of having passionate music.

The role of the woman having the capabilities of making choices has also been portrayed in the book. Saint Agnes was sentenced to life and before being killed, was dragged naked on the streets, but later got chopped. The author uses this narrative to show the misconception that Agnes relationship to God comes about because of sexual experiences (Chapman, 15).