Rosa Cassettari and Red Cloud Analysis Paper.
R. Cloud is widely regarded a statesman and a warrior. His success in altercations with
the United States regime made him one of the most significant Lakota heads of the nineteenth
century. Born in 1822, his name was the English version of Makhpiyaluta/ Scarlet Cloud or
Mahpua-Luta. Rosa Cassettari and Red Cloud Analysis Paper.He was born on the good-natured banks of the expansive Platte River –Nebraska,
USA (Matthiessen, 2014). His mother belonged to the Oglala Sioux and his dad belonged to the
Brule Sioux. In addition, he was raised in the home of chief Smoke –maternal uncle.
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Though the
story of his early years remains relatively unknown, Cloud most likely grew up in the
conventional loving setting that surrounded Sioux children. Throughout his decisive years, it is
known that his tribe spent considerable time engaged in territorial conflicts with the neighboring
Ute, Pawnee, Crow and Shoshone tribes. Also, as Cloud grew up, he was taught various games
to work on his skills as a fighter. He also had a vital ability to tell stories in a convincing plus
lively manner. This endeared him to many people. Much of his early days were spent at battle
against the neighbors, and he proved his medicine was potent at a young age of 16. In this case,
he stayed alive despite having a near-fatal arrow injury in his ribs. His bravery enabled him to
coax fighters from different tribes and gained vast prominence within his nation (Lakota) for his
unequaled leadership skills. Young R. Cloud created a character for both cruelty and bravery.
His desire to save his people from invasion made him a man of pronounced ruthlessness. Such attributes marked the making of great leader and he took a single partner (Pretty Owl) in his
lifetime – the marriage lasting for over 5 decades.
R. Cassettari is similar to Cloud in that she also encountered problems upon reaching the
United States. Originally being a northern Italian citizen, she was forced to America and was
married to a man she never loved. Not only was she made to leave her sibling but also her
husband. Nevertheless, her life involved struggle against oppression and the bravery displayed at
a young age resembled that of Cloud. Similar to Cloud’s early life, Cassettari’s socialization in
northern Italy signified a great character. For instance, she took responsibilities that bellied her
age including unwinding silk out of cocoons in a filanda or silk mill. In addition, similarities
appear in their early years because both of them shared a common problem – need for protection.
It is clear that Cloud developed bravery and ruthlessness to offer his people protection as well as
protect himself and in Cassettari’s case her foster mum married her to an older male for
protection (Dublin, p 124). More so, she was a fine storyteller an attribute also possessed by
Cloud during his early years. This attribute enabled Cloud and Cassettari to develop early in their
childhood and influence their peers. Similar to Cloud’s early life when he lived at his maternal
uncle household, Cassettari found herself in various households after being abandoned at birth.
Also similar to Cloud’s life is that Cassettari had leadership qualities. This evidenced in her role
as the leader of the settlement. Similar to Cloud’s experiences, Cassettari’s life reveals how
things were like for immigrants during the early years. Their experiences tell facts about
immigration to America including the harsh realities that were faced by minorities during that
time. Cloud’s and Cassettari’s dreams of a wonderful land were not realized and in Cassettari’s
case she arrived underprivileged and remained so (Dublin, p 125). Cassettari life also had
similarities with Cloud’s because their troubled lives she was battered by those close to her during the early life. For instance, her foster mother beat her time and again and after she
immigrated to America her new husband turned out abusive. Cloud, on his part, was involved in
conflict since childhood. There is an undeniable a similarity in their experiences due to the
considerable courage they displayed trying to conquer the difficulties they faced. In Cloud’s
case, he did not break down after getting a potentially fatal arrow shot to his ribs. Rather, he
made his medicine and led his community in the battlefront at such a young age. Also, his
courage enabled him to kill one of his uncle’s main enemy – even though it meant the start of a
dissension among the Oglala that would persists for years. Similar to Cloud, Cassettari’s courage
was evidenced through her desire to succeed against all odds –from being abandoned at birth
through her movement between foster homes. Even as an immigrant, she did not allow people to
abuse her but struggled against bullies including the abusive husband (Santino). All in all, Cloud
and Cassettari’s early life experiences were filled with hardships. This made them develop their
leadership skills and learn to take responsibilities – a trait that made them succeed in their
lifetime. Rosa Cassettari and Red Cloud Analysis Paper.
Cloud’s and Cassettari’s life and experiences differed significantly. One of the
differences in their lives was that Cloud was born in America unlike Cassettari who was born in
Italy. In fact, Cloud can be considered an American citizen with Indian roots but Cassettari was
purely an immigrant from Italy. Their early childhood also differed in that Cloud found himself
surrounded by influential figures since childhood including his dad and his uncle who was a
local chief. Cassettari did not get to enjoy such benefits and she was passed along households –
evidence of instability throughout her life. However, her undying desire for an improved life
never died. Unlike Cloud’s early life – growing up in his conventional loving environment,
Cassettari certainly did not enjoy her traditional Italian setting during her middle age (Matthiessen, 2014). It was during this age she immigrated to America and forced to leave her
sibling plus husband. In contrast to Cloud’s life, Cassettari never experienced inter-ethnic wars
that troubled Cloud and his people. The wars made Cloud a force to be reckoned with and
marked the experiences that would make him a great warrior. However, unlike Cloud’s
dependency in using physical power in achieving his goals of leading the community, Cassettari
greatly utilized her mind in navigating her way to greatness (Valerie, 2009). For instance, after
being abandoned at birth and finding herself in abusive hands she sought a way ought to achieve
a better life – although the dream was shattered after arriving in America and living in poverty.
Also in contrast, Cassettari did not learn for her traditional people about fight. Cloud had been
games that trained him how to develop his fighting skills, and is evident that he employed them
to great effect. Rosa Cassettari and Red Cloud Analysis Paper.From slaying some of his uncle’s main rivals, cloud fought many territorial wars
with great success. Most likely, cloud enjoyed love throughout his life despite living at his
uncle’s household. In fact, we know that he married once and remained married for over half
century – underlying his contentment with love life. In contrast, Cassettari experienced love for a
short period in her life before it became dark once more. After being abandoned at birth, she
certainly did not enjoy motherly life as a toddler (Sera, p 118). Her early life also does not
insinuate any experience of love because she moved from one household to the next, and she was
battered in some foster homes. After leaving her sibling and her husband in Italy, she never
found love in America after marrying Santino – a man she never loved in the first place. The
man watched her in labor and could not bring her water when she became weak to leave the bed. Rosa Cassettari and Red Cloud Analysis Paper.
Ultimately, she left Santino and lived in an icy alley with her siblings.
In conclusion, the two people remain entrenched in history as far as immigrants’ troubles
in the early years are concerned. Differences and similarities are evident in their lives but both sought to better their lives. Their courage, determination as well as desire for a better life are
unparalleled. Despite experiencing troubled upbringings during their early days, they rose to the
challenge in an effort to create better lives for the people. Without a doubt, immigration changed
the course of America is a true representation of this fact. Societal ills including discrimination
and conflicts are a thing of the past. The lives of immigrants in the country will never be the
same.
Work cited
Dublin, Thomas. Immigrant voices: new lives in America, 1773-1986. USA: University of
Illinois Press, 1993. Print.
Valerie. The life of an immigrant by Rosa Cassettari. Web. 2009. Available from
http://www.reviewstream.com/reviews/?p=93021 Accessed 08 April 2014.
Sera, Llaria. The value of worthless lives. New York: Fordham University Press, 2007. Print.
Matthiessen, Peter. United States history. Web. 2014. Available online http://www.u-s-
history.com/pages/h3756.html Accessed 08 April 2014. Rosa Cassettari and Red Cloud Analysis Paper.