Louis Riel Dichotomy

This passage from the comic book in terms of visual style, proposes isolation as an encompassing theme primarily surrounding the protagonist Louis Riel. For instance, in the first two panels of the strip, although Louis Riel is being spoken to, he is the only figure in the scene so as to be directly “apart from others” as the definition of isolation refers to. Moreover, within these two panels, Louis Riel’s back is even to the unknown figure speaking which further illustrates the message of separateness and also potentially suggests that he does not care, or is not truly committed to what is being said to him as to “turn your back” as a colloquial phrase means to “ignore something or someone.” Also, dual meaning of this phrase is to “refuse …show more content…
This visual creates a classic dichotomy between light and darkness to perhaps propose that by attempting to run for parliament as is discussed in this scene, Louis Riel is in the archetypical role of the “noble hero” facing an oppression that attempts to consume him. Furthermore, Louis Riel is in a similar physical stance in panels four and five with his body facing away from the figure speaking to him. In these scenes, moreover, the black background is no longer surrounding Riel but is now behind him in the doorway to perhaps indicate that since he has won the election, as is mentioned here, he has now passed through the threshold of his struggles to instead find a new state in which he is beginning to overcome the oppressive forces that were challenging him in panels one and two. Additionally, where in panels one and two Louis Riel was in the middle ground of the frame, in panels four and five he is featured in the foreground to suggest a reducing of distance and metaphorically, a greater closeness to the goal of reaching parliament that Riel …show more content…
For instance, where Louis Riel is the focal point of the beginning panels, in the final scene this perspective is shifted to the Canadian Parliament building, Louis Riel’s adversary. Likewise, in panel three Alexander Mackenzie is much larger in the foreground than the crowd of supporters in the background creating connotation to power through the alternate connotation of smallness comparable to weakness. In this way, while Louis Riel grows progressively larger throughout the frames, by being drawn as so small in the final one it potentially serves as foreshadowing to an eventual lack of power or success in his cause. Moreover, where Louis Riel is alone or appears disconnected from those around him, Alexander Mackenzie has a vibrant crowd of supporters further developing notions of power through the idea of strength in numbers. In addition, Louis Riel in a position lacking power is also generated through the talk of hiding from parliament in panels one and two. Specifically, the act of hiding creates association to being on the defensive in conflict versus the claims of offence that Mackenzie makes in panel three through his promise to deny Riel amnesty and thus, attack his safety within the