How does hearing his grandpa's
story about the medicine bag affect
Martin?

Martin and Grandpa are characters in the short story "The Medicine Bag" by author Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve . Grandpa is a Native American who belongs to the Sioux group of tribes. Martin, as his male descendant, is supposed to receive the medicine bag Grandpa carries around with him before Grandpa dies.

At first, Martin is embarrassed and unwilling to receive and wear the medicine bag. He even refers to it as a "dirty leather pouch" that Grandpa has around his neck. However, Grandpa tells Martin the story behind the items that are carried inside the bag and their meanings. They used to belong to Grandpa's father, the last one in their family to make a vision quest. Martin's feelings change once he realizes how important the bag is to Grandpa. It is not only a representation of his culture, but also of his family. Martin now takes the bag seriously, and he is more than willing to receive it. He stands up, ready to have Grandpa place the bag around his neck.

Grandpa quit talking and I stared in disbelief as he covered his face with his hands. His shoulders  were shaking with quiet sobs and I looked away until he began to speak again.

[...]

Again Grandpa was still and I felt his grief around me.

[...]

I stood up, somehow knowing I should. Grandpa slowly rose from the bed and stood upright in  front of me, holding the bag before my face. I closed my eyes and waited for him to slip it over  my head. But he spoke.

[...]

That night Mom and Dad took Grandpa to the hospital. Two weeks later I stood alone on the  lonely prairie of the reservation and put the sacred sage in my medicine bag.

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