The Duality of Daldal

Thomas Doty – Storyteller

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Daldal, a giant dragonfly in Takelma mythology, has a split personality: wise man and fool. Everything about him is twofold. His name is a repetition of a single sound -- dal dal -- and his huge eyes look like two heads. In one story, Daldal dramatizes his duality by splitting himself in half! He becomes two brothers. Elder Daldal is wise and does good things in the world. Younger Daldal is self-serving and foolish. In the end, the brothers turn into the two Table Rocks along the Rogue River.