A Mutually Catalytic Canadian relationship

The relationship that existed between Riel and Macdonald could have been lifted from a Shakespearean drama. The roles of a protagonist and an antagonist seem to have been interchangeable between Riel and Macdonald. These roles evolved in the presence of each other, which outline the importance both Riel and Macdonald played in each other’s lives. Macdonald’s purchase of Rupertsland without consulting the existing population prompted Riel’s rebellious actions, which Macdonald then responded accordingly to. In addition, Canada’s railway, which had been heavily promoted by Macdonald himself, altered the society in which the Metis lived. This consequently resulted in Riel’s return to Canada from Montana to help improve the conditions of the Metis living in the Saskatchewan region. x Riel’s concern for the perseverance of rights, his determination for justice, and his rebellious actions, were all in response to the decisions made by Macdonald. These are the connections which truly emphasize the presence of a protagonist-antagonist relationship between these two figures, and which shed light on the significance of both men in Canadian History.