Borders by thomas king questions

Question

I need these answers according to the short story "Borders" by thomas king.

1. Explain the conflict at the border?
2. Why does the narrator focus on the guards guns? What do they symbolize?
3. How does the media/news play a role in the conflict of the story?

Answer 1

1. Explain the conflict at the border?

The main source of conflict was how the mom and son couldn't cross the border to the United States because Blackfoot did not legally classify as a citizenship. 

1. Why does the narrator focus on the guards guns? What do they symbolize?

When the younger sibling took a glance at her gun belt, she noticed that she had her name, Stella, scratched into the handle of the gun. This might be a sign of protection and security. It shows how serious the guards are about keeping track of everyone’s identity and citizenship when they try to cross the border. The guns also show how much power the guards have over the mother and son.

1. How does the media/news play a role in the conflict of the story?

The media made then conflict public

and made everyone aware of what was going on.

Without the media’s help the mother and son may not have been able to cross the border at all.