Sherman Alexie Analysis

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Sherman Alexie, a Spokane Indian, grew up on a reservation in eastern Washington, surrounded by poverty, alcoholism, and diseases. Against the odds, he became a rising star. Alexie, born on October 7th, 1966, where he was “miserable” growing up due to his father’s alcoholism. Alexie proves that growing up in an unprivileged community and making something out of your life is possible. Sherman Alexie relates his story to his life. In the story Victor, the main character, loses his father and the poverty within the Indian reservation causes him to have a long lost friend, Thomas, reappear in Victor’s life after multiple years of not communicating and pay for the trip down to Phoenix. Throughout the story Victor and Thomas became close again.
Losing someone can be detrimental to a person's well being. In the story This is what it means to say Phoenix, Arizona, a boy named Victor loses his father to a heart attack. Victor is an underprivileged man that has no way to get down to Phoenix, so he starts asking around for rides. Victor starts by asking the Tribal Council. “‘Listen,’ Victor said. ‘My father just died. I need some money to get to Phoenix to make arrangements.’” (Alexie) The Tribal Council comes back with the response Victor did not want to hear. “Now, Victor, you know we are having a difficult time financially.” (Alexie 1). Victor, surprised and confused, did not know how to proceed. The council was only able to offer him a mere one hundred dollars. Victor accepted the money and went over to the Trading Post to cash it, where he watched Thomas, standing near a magazine rack, talk to him self.
Thomas looks at Victor, smiles, and walks toward him. Proceeding, he says, “Victor, I’m sorry about your father.” (Alexie 2). Victor...

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...ad been in that trailer for a week in hundred degree temperature before anyone found him. “The only reason anyone found him was because of the smell.” Victor said in disbelief. “They needed dental records to identify him. That’s exactly what the coroner said.” (Alexie 5)
Alexie’s views on being a hyphenated American are very strong. In the short story This is what it means to say Phoenix, Arizona, I believe Alexie related his struggles as a kid to the struggles Victor went through as a child and when his father passed away. Alexie went through a lot as a younger kid, he grew up with his dad constantly drinking and disappearing for long periods at a time. On the reservation drinking was something that went on on a daily basis. In the story, Victor started drinking at age fifteen, not by choice, or by force, but he grew up around it so it was the only thing he knew.

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