Literary analysis
Since the time of its publication, Island of the Blue Dolphins has been the subject of many pieces of literary scholarship.[19][20][21][22][23] The text explores the themes of independence, vulnerability, growth, survival, paternalism, and rescue, among others.[22] The first-person point of view employed throughout the text is another narrative technique that serves to strengthen Karana's characterization and convey her courage and love.[19]
The book can be considered a "Robinsonade", meaning that it tells the story of a character who must survive on a deserted island (or the equivalent), named after The Life and Strange Surprizing Adventures of Robinson Crusoe.[19][23] Diann L. Baecker, a professor of Languages and Literature, suggests that the text is more than merely a "rescue narrative" where an orphan girl needs to be saved by a paternalistic hero.[22] Rather, Baecker argues that readers themselves can interpret Island of the Blue Dolphins to be a feminist parable and story of survival.[22]
Many attribute the long-lasting power of the novel to this existence of a strong female protagonist with unisex characteristics, brought to the public during a time when this was not the norm.[20][21][22] Karana takes on roles typically associated with men in order to survive, such as her skillful crafting of weapons.[22] At the same time, Karana remains tied to her feminine association with nature as she lovingly cares for hurt animals and vows never to hunt them again.[22] Literary scholar and professor C. Anita Tarr argues the success of the story should be attributed to Karana's lack of emotions and the major gaps in O'Dell's writing, which allow readers to fill in their own interpretations and feelings.[20]
Additionally, scholars agree that Island of the Blue Dolphins has both challenged and reproduced harmful stereotypes of Native peoples that had been propagated by past publications.[19][24] Jon C. Stott, a professor of English, states that O'Dell's position as a Non-Native writer helped bring more attention to the culture and stories of Indigenous people.[19] A past chair of the Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction, Hazel Rochman, also notes the challenges associated with writing authentically about another culture, yet suggests that O'Dell's research and empathy present in the text allowed it to become a long-lasting success.[21]
Carole Goldberg, a Professor of Law and scholar of Native American studies, highlights Island of the Blue Dolphins as what is known as a "vanishing Indian story".[24] Such stories perpetuate the idea that all Native tribes were assimilated into white society in the United States, while ignoring all moral and legal issues related to the colonization of Native Americans.[24][25] Island of the Blue Dolphins plays into this harmful idea as all the members of Karana’s tribe are either brutally killed or taken away by missionaries, thus disappearing from the narrative entirely.[24] Yet, an alternative reading of the text centered around cultural repatriation and land rights can still serve as a metaphor for tribal resilience.[19][24]
Pedagogical analysis
Sara L. Schwebel, chair of the Carolina Children’s Literature consortium and English professor, states that Island of the Blue Dolphins should be better integrated into school curriculum alongside relevant contemporary scholarship.[26] Further, she contends that children can grapple with critical issues such as colonialism, disempowerment, and resilience in school settings.[26] Children may also be more capable of dealing with death in books than adults perceive them to be, and exposure to Island of the Blue Dolphins or texts with similar depictions of death can be helpful for children to begin processing the concept of death at an early age.[27]
