What You Pawn I Will Redeem Analysis

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Recommended: the significance of cultural identity

“What You Pawn I Will Redeem,” by Sherman Alexie gives readers a look at the life of homeless, easygoing, middle aged Native American, Jackson Jackson. The story, which is set in Seattle, describes the conditions that Jackson finds himself in. Alexie’s choice of motifs emphasizes the significance of cultural and historical references. With these concepts in mind, the reader is taken through a journey of self-realization. “What You Pawn I Will Redeem” narrates the internal struggle Jackson feels trying to figure out his personal identity as a Native American. The story chronicles situations that illustrate the common stereotypes about Natives. Through Jackson’s humble personality, the reader can grasp his true feeling towards White people, which Gaining the regalia is about gaining pride. Jackson mentions to the newspaper owner that, “It’s now a quest. I need to win it back myself” (14). Jackson also mentions to the cop, “I’m on a mission here. I want to be a hero” (24). Jackson wants to find something that will make him feel like he has done something for his culture and his people. These saying contradict his actions because every time he gets closer to gaining more money, he spends it. In the long run, Jackson’s pitfalls did not stop his determination of gaining back the regalia and ultimately finding his personal When he talked about his friends, he would often repeat the phrase “Rose of Sharon, Junior, and me” in the same or similar fashion. Another reoccurring concept is disappearing. When Jackson and his friends get drunk, they seem to disappear once he wakes up. Rose of Sharon disappears the first time he wakes up after getting drunk with his friends. Next, Junior disappeared when Jackson wanted to go tell him that he won the lottery. He finds out he died of exposure. Jackson made friends at a Native American bar with Honey boy and Irene. After they get drunk and he wakes up, he sees that they have also disappeared. Jackson also mentions how he has broken hearts in the past and ever since he has slowly been disappearing. Native Americans have been disappearing slowly in America. They are looked over and Jackson is struggling with this. He feels himself disappearing but feels as though the regalia will set him

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