The Cowboys of the Walker Brothers and Canada's Second Wave of Nationalism

The Cowboy of the Walker Brothers, as the opening story of "Dance of the Happy Shadow," not only provides an overview of the entire book, but its creative background is closely related to Canada's second wave of nationalism. The story was created in 1967, coinciding with the centenary of Canada's founding. Nationalist fervor was on the rise, Quebec independence temporarily subsided, and public concerns about the economic and military impact of the United States intensified. This anti American sentiment connected the English speaking and French speaking regions of Canada, paving the way for Trudeau to be elected as the new Prime Minister of Canada. Monroe's creations were influenced by the political trends of the time and had clear references to national culture.

Ladies' Mothers and the Identity Crisis in the UK

The image of a "lady" mother in "The Cowboys of the Walker Brothers" reflects Monroe's exploration of the identity crisis in Britain. The character is based on Monroe's mother and embodies a strong sense of class consciousness and nostalgia for the culture of the old British Empire. In a small town environment in Canada, her mother's untimely fate became her tragedy, symbolizing the decline of British imperial culture in Canada. The difference in identity between her mother and father led to family problems, and her disdain for small town life and nostalgia for farm life reflected the influence of the British gentry tradition. This tradition is a continuation of the aristocratic tradition in British history, emphasizing land as a symbol of wealth and status. My mother's "ladylike" behavior and emphasis on clothing and food demonstrate her incongruity with small town life, ultimately leading to her isolation and failure. The tragedy of the mother also symbolizes the disappearance of British imperial culture in Canada. As Canada gradually gained autonomy and international status, the influence of the United States on Canada continued to increase, and British characteristics continued to decrease.

Cowboy Father and American Economic Invasion

Explored Monroe's cautious attitude towards the US economic invasion of Canada in "The Cowboys of the Walker Brothers". The Walker Brothers Company in the story symbolizes American investment and cultural influence in Canada. The father of the Jordan family positioned himself as a "cowboy," a symbol of American culture that reflects his partial acceptance of American ideals. He sees himself as the savior of the family's economy, bravely protecting the family from the threat of economic hardship like a cowboy. However, the products he promoted had no practical use for Canadian farmers and were only tools for creating illusions of industrial life. My father sees his sales activities as an inspection of the territory and spreading American consumer culture. He tried to cater to the image of a "cowboy", but encountered hostility and indifference from the community. Canadian farmers are not interested in American products, especially during the Great Depression. The hostility of the Canadian community towards American companies stems from deep-seated historical grievances, such as the War of 1812, which played a crucial role in shaping Canada's national identity. American goods are seen as symbols of aggression and are being boycotted. The spiritual estrangement between fathers and British 'ladylike' mothers, as well as their differences in cultural identity between the United States and Britain, has led to family division, metaphorically representing the predicament of Canadian culture in the face of American and British influences.

Minority 'Others' and the Cultural Security Dilemma in Canada

Explored the third path in the construction of Canadian culture, revealing the importance of ethnicity and religion in Canadian society through the character Nora in Monroe's story "The Cowboys of the Walker Brothers". Nora, as an exiled minority 'other', represents the complexity of Canadian regional culture, transcending the simple binary opposition between English and French. In the story, Nora's Catholic identity and Irish background echo the religious and ethnic conflicts in Canadian history. Monroe portrays the reality of religious discrimination through a child's perspective, while also depicting the pure Canadian identity between Nora and her father based on shared upbringing experiences. This identity is not influenced by ethnic and religious differences, reflecting the hybridity and confusion of Canadian cultural identity. Through this story, Monroe portrays Canada's process of finding its own voice against the backdrop of mature nationalism, weakened influence of the British Empire, and strong infiltration of American culture. The triangular relationship in the story symbolizes a profound insight into Canadian cultural issues, echoing Canada's implementation of multiculturalism and "cultural exception" policies in reality, adding interesting footnotes to Monroe's works.