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The Meditations
Doves
The titular infestation that begins The Plague of Doves might suggest that the birds symbolize infestation or chaos. But instead, over the course of Erdrich’s narrative, doves come to represent the blurry lines between myth…
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Violins/Fiddles
Throughout The Plague of Doves, violins—especially Shamengwa’s—represent faith and understanding. Violins appear everywhere in the novel: an “unearthly violin solo” plays in the background during the haunting murder in the prologue, Lafayette Peace…
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Reptiles and Amphibians
For most of The Plague of Doves, reptiles and amphibians (especially snakes and salamanders) seem to symbolize danger or evil. Early in the novel, for example, pompous priest Father Cassidy crosses himself when he…
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