Final answer:
Maritole's perspective in 'Pushing the Bear' affects the reader's understanding by providing a personal account of the Cherokee's suffering during the enforcement of the Treaty of New Echota, leading to the Trail of Tears.
Step-by-step explanation:
Maritole's perspective as featured in the passage from Pushing the Bear, which is a fictionalized account of the Cherokee experience during the enforcement of the Treaty of New Echota, would affect the reader's understanding by providing personal insight into the hardships and emotional toll the Cherokee people experienced. In historical narratives, perspectives such as Maritole's can emphasize the human impact of political decisions and treaties, which official documents and impersonal accounts may overlook. Through her eyes, readers gain a better understanding of the betrayal, suffering, and resilience of the Cherokee people as they faced forced removal from their ancestral lands.
Maritole's perspective likely aligns with option (C) from the provided answers, as it describes how poorly the Cherokee were treated, despite the treaty's promises. This viewpoint can elicit empathy from the reader and underscore the discrepancy between the treaty's stipulations and the grim reality faced by the Cherokee during the removal process. It provides context on how the Trail of Tears was not just a series of events but a deeply personal tragedy for those who were forcibly uprooted from their homes.