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    6.1. Memories of Childhood - The Cutting of My Long Hair - Class 12 - Vistas

    • Aug 1
    • 5 min read
    ree

    Author: Zitkala-Sa (pen name of Gertrude Simmons Bonnin)

    Textbook: Vistas

    Genre: Autobiographical Extract / Prose

    Summary


    “The Cutting of My Long Hair” is an autobiographical excerpt by Native American writer Zitkala-Sa, who recalls her traumatic childhood experience at a boarding school run by white missionaries. The author describes her first day at the school as filled with fear, confusion, and cultural shock. The unfamiliar surroundings, loud bells, and formal ways of eating left her feeling alienated and lost.


    The worst moment for her came when she learned that her long hair would be forcibly cut off. In her Native American culture, long hair symbolized dignity, freedom, and respect, and cutting it was associated with mourning or humiliation. Though her friend Judewin accepted that they were powerless, Zitkala-Sa resisted. She tried to hide under a bed to escape, but was eventually found, dragged out, tied to a chair, and had her hair shingled.


    The experience left her humiliated and heartbroken, symbolizing the loss of her identity and cultural freedom. The incident reflects the larger injustice faced by indigenous children who were forcefully assimilated into mainstream American culture. Zitkala-Sa expresses her deep sorrow, emotional conflict, and longing for the dignity she lost.


    Character Sketch:


    Zitkala-Sa

    • A young Native American girl with a strong cultural identity

    • Emotionally sensitive and aware of her traditions

    • Brave and determined—tries to resist injustice

    • Feels deep humiliation at the forced cutting of her hair

    • Symbolizes the voice of resistance against cultural oppression


    Themes


    Theme

    Description

    Cultural Identity

    The story explores how Native American identity was forcibly suppressed

    Resistance and Rebellion

    Zitkala-Sa's defiance symbolizes strength and refusal to surrender dignity

    Racial Discrimination

    Highlights the injustice faced by Native children under white missionary control

    Childhood Trauma

    Describes the mental agony and confusion of a child stripped of cultural freedom

    Loss of Freedom

    Symbolized by the cutting of hair and restriction of traditional clothing

    ✨ Literary Devices / Poetic Devices

    Device

    Example

    Effect

    Symbolism

    “Cutting of long hair”

    Represents cultural loss and forced assimilation

    Imagery

    “Crawled under the bed… dragged out”

    Vividly describes fear and physical struggle

    Metaphor

    “Like one of many little animals driven by a herder”

    Highlights dehumanization of Native children

    Contrast

    Indian girls in moccasins vs. tight dresses and shoes

    Shows cultural discomfort and imposed change

    First-person narrative

    Entire story told from the author’s perspective

    Creates an emotional, personal connection with the reader


    Title Justification


    The title The Cutting of My Long Hair captures the central moment of emotional and cultural trauma in the narrator’s experience. For Zitkala-Sa, the forced haircut was not just a physical act—it symbolized the stripping away of her Native American identity and autonomy. Long hair held spiritual and cultural value in her community, and cutting it was seen as a sign of mourning, captivity, or disgrace. The title highlights the pain and loss involved in the forced assimilation of Native children and becomes a metaphor for the broader erasure of indigenous identity.


    One-Mark Questions


    1. Why was Zitkala-Sa uncomfortable on her first day at the school?

      → She was disturbed by the strange environment, loud bells, and unfamiliar customs. Everything around her felt foreign and intimidating.


    2. Why was the act of cutting hair so painful for Zitkala-Sa?

      → In her culture, long hair symbolized strength and respect, and cutting it was associated with disgrace or mourning. Losing it meant losing a part of her identity.


    3. How did Zitkala-Sa try to resist having her hair cut?

      → She ran away quietly and hid under a bed in a dark room. She refused to answer when called and tried to fight back when found.


    4. What does Zitkala-Sa mean when she says she was treated “like a wooden puppet”?

      → It means she was treated without emotion or respect, forced to follow rules blindly. Her autonomy was completely ignored.


    5. What role does Judewin play in the story?

      → Judewin is a friend who understands a little English. She warns Zitkala-Sa about the haircut and advises her to submit, though Zitkala-Sa refuses.


    Three-Mark Questions


    1. Describe the significance of the haircut scene in the story.

      → The haircut is the central act of forced assimilation in the story. Zitkala-Sa views it as a humiliating and painful loss, as her culture associates short hair with shame or defeat. The physical act reflects a deeper emotional violation. Despite her resistance, she is tied down and forced to accept the cut, symbolizing her powerlessness. This scene is a powerful representation of how indigenous identity was stripped away in boarding schools.


    2. What challenges did Zitkala-Sa face on her first day at the boarding school?

      → From the start, she felt alienated by the unfamiliar language, food rituals, and harsh environment. The mechanical way of dining, the cold weather, and the loss of her traditional clothes disturbed her. She felt watched, judged, and treated like an outsider. The forced haircut was the final emotional blow. Altogether, these experiences marked the beginning of her cultural erasure.


    3. How does the narrative highlight the clash of cultures?

      → The story presents the Native American way of life as being in harmony with personal dignity and identity. The boarding school, representing Western culture, enforces uniformity, discipline, and suppression of cultural traits. Zitkala-Sa’s moccasins, long hair, and blanket are all taken away to conform to “civilized” norms. Her confusion and resistance reflect the pain of cultural collision. The narrative gives voice to those who were silenced by colonial systems.


    Value-Based Question


    Q: What moral lesson does the story teach about respecting cultural diversity?

    → The story teaches that every culture holds deep emotional and spiritual significance for its people. Forcing someone to abandon their traditions, language, or identity is a form of violence. True education should encourage understanding, not erase differences. Zitkala-Sa’s painful experience reminds us of the importance of empathy, cultural respect, and human dignity. It urges us to honour diversity and not use power to suppress it.



    End

     

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