Beliefs can be easily influenced by the tradition of the culture as the author shows through Garnet throughout the book

Beliefs can be easily influenced by the tradition of the culture as the author shows through Garnet throughout the book

Beliefs can be easily influenced by the tradition of the culture as the author shows through Garnet throughout the book. Most of the culture has its own belief and people try to pass that to the next generation in the same way they have believed it. For this reason, people have different kinds of beliefs depending on their culture because people have beliefs based on what they have known and experienced. In the beginning of the novel, Garnet does not have a certain belief inside him since, he does not even know who he really is and which culture he belongs to; however, as he learns more about his culture he starts to have religious beliefs that an ordinary Indian would have. “That visions could be just about anything and was meant to be sacred and private thing for the seeker. Gave a direction to their life. Called it a vision quest” (252, Wagamese). As he learns more about the religious beliefs, he feels more connected and discovers his own self where he truly belongs. The first feeling of belonging that he has never experienced in the past has inculcated various beliefs inside him as he turns out to be a valuable member of the community. As shown above, people are unconsciously encouraged by the culture to form or change the belief to find who they really are, like Garnet. Once, they fit in to a specific group, they try to find something that can link themselves and the culture to feel a sense of belonging. Given these points, culture definitely has an impact on one’s belief as well as the identity based on the tradition of the culture.