Searching for the Spirit of Crazy Horse: A Rhetorical Analysis of Competing Myths

Abstract

In this thesis I look at three different biographical reconstructions of Crazy Horse that construct the famous Lakota man as a mythic hero. Through the lens of myth and narrative theory, I identify three different ways in which Crazy Horse has been portrayed as a heroic individual: 1) as a heroic warrior for his leadership role in defeating U.S. forces at the Battle of the Little Bighorn 2) for his generosity to his people in a time of traumatic change and 3) for his willingness to sacrifice his life to end the violent conflict between Sioux and U.S. military. I argue that Crazy Horse presents a unique opportunity for biographers to offer competing myths about his life because we know so little about him, aside from his accomplishments. Thus, the lack of primary resources about the life of Crazy Horse provides an opportunity for the biographer to construct Crazy Horse in a way that serves their own purpose in telling his story.