The legendary tale of Evangeline: A Tale of Acadie, published in 1847, told the tragedy of the Expulsion of the Acadians through the brokenhearted Evangeline separated from her fiancé, Gabriel. Written as a poem, the story tells of her perseverance to reunite with Gabriel against all odds. She searches for him as far as she can go, picking up clues to his whereabouts along the way.
Even with another man asking her to marry him instead of the missing Gabriel, Evangeline remains faithful to her fiancé. The tale of Evangeline reignited a sense of pride in Acadians, where she is forever a symbol of their undying spirit.
La Sagouine started as a radio show about an older Acadian woman recounting her life and talking about the history and tragedy of Acadie. The unnamed character came to life when the show became a play, bringing in the representation of an older woman to the stage and becoming an icon of Acadie.
Compared to female characters in Western literature of the 19th century, Evangeline was portrayed much more positively. Meanwhile, La Sagouine has been a hit as a one-woman show for decades. This lively character has brought the often forgotten stories of older women front and center of the Acadian story.
We’ll uncover these well-rounded characters in both of these stories where Acadians have found inspiration, symbolism, and folklore. Not only to confide together about their history but to celebrate their strong sense of pride and community.
