A Bird in the House

Margaret Laurence’s A Bird in the House is set in Manitoba during the mid-20th century, a period in which significant historical and cultural shifts shaped the Canadian identity. Global events like the Great Depression and World Wars I and II not only disrupted the global economy, but also greatly impacted individual lives and local communities. The Great Depression, triggered by the 1929 stock market crash in the United States, caused economic hardships in Canada, forcing many families into poverty and altering societal structures. During World War II, the demand for military supplies and personnel transformed the Canadian economy and society, accelerating urbanization and changing gender roles as women increasingly joined the workforce.

The novel touches on the unique identity and challenges faced by the Métis community in Manitoba within the context of their cultural background. The Métis is a group with mixed Indigenous and European ancestry, predominantly made up of French fur traders and Indigenous peoples such as the Cree and Ojibwe. They have a rich cultural heritage that reflects both Indigenous and European influences. However, the 1885 Northwest Resistance, the Battle of Batoche, and the failure of the scrip system—which was intended to provide land to the Métis—resulted in loss and disenfranchisement. These events led to the dispersion and marginalization of the Métis, impacting their social and economic status and contributing to a complex interplay of identity and survival that resonates within the narrative of the novel.