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Major themes in alexie shermans this is what it means to say phoenix arizona
Analysis of the wasteland ts eliot
Analysis of the wasteland ts eliot
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This story, written by Sherman Alexie, is about a young man named Victor who is dealing with some life changes. It is clear to see that how he reacts stems from experiences as an adolescent. For instance, when he heard about the death of his father in Phoenix Arizona his actions displayed a non-caring approach. His urgency to travel to Arizona was not out of concern, love or care for his father, but to claim what was left behind by his father’s estate. This exhibited his greed and self-centered attitude. Although I endured a similar experience, I had a totally different reaction when my father died in 2006. I could not be by his side because of extenuating circumstances, but I was emotionally distraught and concerned with my father’s passing
In “This Is What It Means to Say Phoenix Arizona”, Victor has become psychologically troubled because he has put his own traditions behind. Throughout the story, the readers find out that Victor has an internal conflict due to the unhealthy relationships in his life. His father abandons him at a very young age, which causes Victor’s loss of guidance and self-identity. The day that Victor’s father abandons his family, Victor gets “really drunk and beat[s] Thomas up for no apparent reason at all”(276).
In “This Is What It Means To Say Phoenix, Arizona”, Victor finds out that his father has died in Phoenix, Arizona, he then sets out for Phoenix in order to claim his father’s bank account. Victor is an indiain who lives on a reservation, who feels as though his family has no use for him, and after learning that his dad has died, he decides to go to where his dad died to claim his bank account. Although Victor went down to Phoenix for personal gain, he’s an ambitious man, as he never gave up on looking for a way to Phoenix.
A moment in time that I hold close to myself is the funeral of my grandmother. It occurred a couple of weeks ago on the Friday of the blood drive. The funeral itself was well done and the homily offered by the priest enlightened us with hope and truth. But when the anti-climatic end of the funeral came my family members and relatives were somberly shedding tears. A sense of disapproval began creeping into my mind. I was completely shocked that I did not feel any sense of sadness or remorse. I wanted to feel the pain. I wanted to mourn, but there was no source of grief for me to mourn. My grandma had lived a great life and left her imprint on the world. After further contemplation, I realized why I felt the way I felt. My grandmother still
Sherman Alexi is a Native American short story author and in this story “This Is What It Means to Say Phoenix, Arizona,” his protagonist is portrayed in many of the stereotypical ways of being an Indian who lives on a reservation, some of these ways are is he is shown as being very spiritual by seeing the future and having special dreams as well as living up to the idea that most Indians are story tellers.
Victor’s father left his family because according to Thomas, “when they were seven years old, when Victor’s father still lived with the family, Thomas closed his eyes and told Victor this story: your father’s heart is weak. He is afraid of his own family, he is afraid of you. Late at night he sits in the dark. Watches the television until there’s nothing but white noise. Sometimes he feels like he wants to buy a motorcycle and ride away. He wants to run and hide. He doesn’t want to be found” (512). When Victor’s father left, he never truly forgave him. Readers know that because of the details told at the beginning of the story and through the quote that was used in the second paragraph. Although he felt some resentment towards his father, he still felt obligated to bring him back to the reservation. That is where the theme of family comes into the story. Victor’s father died in his hot trailer and was not found for at least a week. Victor knew the trailer his father was staying had to have smelt ripe. But he did not care, as explained in the story, he says,“but there might be something valuable in there and I was talking about pictures and letters and stuff like that” (515). The trip that Victor made to Phoenix was a family journey. That long trip had taught Victor about himself and most importantly about his father. The grief that was bottled up inside was finally being put to rest now
Overall, Alexie clearly faced much difficulty adjusting to the white culture as a Native American growing up, and expresses this through Victor in his essay, “Indian Education.” He goes through all of the stages of his childhood in comparison with his white counterparts. Racism and bullying are both evident throughout the whole essay. The frustration Alexie got from this is clear through the negativity and humor presented in the experiences he had to face, both on and off of the American Indian reservation. It is evident that Alexie faces discrimination from white people, who he portrays as evil in every way, to show that his childhood was filled with anger, fear, and sorrow.
In conclusion, Sherman Alexie created a story to demonstrate the stereotypes people have created for Native Americans. The author is able to do this by creating characters that present both the negative and positive stereotypes that have been given to Native Americans. Alexie has a Native American background. By writing a short story that depicts the life of an Indian, the reader also gets a glimpse of the stereotypes encountered by Alexie. From this short story readers are able to learn the importance of having an identity while also seeing how stereotypes are used by many people. In the end of the story, both Victor and Thomas are able to have an understanding of each other as the can finally relate with each other through Victor's father.
In life, everyone experiences a time of hardship, and for the most part, those affected find methods of overcoming the adversity. The idea of getting through hardship is best reflected in; Sherman J. Alexie’s story “This Is What It Means to Say Phoenix, Arizona” (274). In the story, victor whose father had recently died from a heart attack has to travel to phoenix Arizona to reclaim his father’s ashes and his truck. Victor is joined by his former childhood friend “Thomas Builds-the-fire”, who finances the trip to phoenix since Victor did not have the means. They drove back truck from phoenix to the reservation. Throughout the trip, Thomas is always telling stories mostly reminiscing about their childhood. It is through Thomas stories that we learn much about Victor’s father. Through the use of symbolism, and character development, Alexie conveys the idea that, when someone is experiencing an adversity, reconnecting and embracing the past may lead to a discovery of a brighter future.
The last thing I would want to hear as a twelve year old girl was, “Your dad has cancer.” It was September 2011 when I found out my dad was diagnosed with prostate cancer. I was in shock and speechless as to what I should even say. I can remember my mom telling me about the unfortunate news while she tried to hide the tears behind her eyes. As a young girl I never expected a family member especially my dad to have cancer. Many questions like what would I do without my dad filled my head. I started to doubt God as to how could this happen to an amazing man. I had so many negative thoughts in my mind yet on the outside I tried to show people that I was okay.
His death appalled me, especially because I had no preparation for his departure; it came completely out of the blue. I missed school for a few days prior to his funeral; I did nothing but grieve. My family and I went to his funeral, but it didn’t help much with my grieving.
Right before the summer of 2016, I was ecstatic to be one of the 8 people out of the whole junior class selected to go on a trip out west. I have never gone on a camping trip nor have I been out west before. We flew into Phoenix, Arizona for a youth exploration program. They paired my high school’s group up with 8 other high school students from Flagstaff. We explored multiple canyons and trails on our five-day road trip into northern Utah, where we were going to end our journey with a four-day river trip in the Green River. All I knew was that we might go hiking and for a road trip in the desert. I really didn’t know what I was in for.
In December of 2006 each and every one of my family members life had turned up side down. What I want to say is that my parents near death experience provoked a sad emotion I wish to never experience again in my life.
Losing my dad, at a young age is one the event that still upset me even up to this day. The devastating thing about my lost is that, I don't have any memory of him. I know people keep telling me that I lost a father, but I really don't understand how it feels to lose someone close to me. There were days that I missed having a father, but without a memory of him made it sometimes easier to bare. Other times, it's difficult for me to think about him, because I have no memories of him and I want something to remain me of him. Losing him and living in a refuge camp for 11years, changed my worldview from having a loving God to not having a God. All those years, I thought God did not love my family. I asked myself so many questions, like way will
One day in May, I was informed that my parents got a divorce. I didn't really mind since I was never too fond of my father. I was able to handle it well, in fact, I didn't care at all that my parents got separated. I had no thoughts on it other than the fact we were going to have to live as a low income family. The next event happened a few days later when I was in my math class. I received a text from my mother saying that my grandmother had gotten cancer. I shed a few tears for the rest of that class and that was the end of my mourning. After that day, I never spent a moment being melancholy over my grandmother's illness. Through these events it occurred to me that I was heartless; I had no emotional attachment toward others. This became my personal struggle.
Life is a strange mixture of events. Today you are in high spirits and the next day you are miserable. However, some events are more significant than others, significant enough that they can change your life. When I was sixteen years old, I received a phone call that changed my life. I was staying at one of my relative’s home when my father called and asked to speak to me. My father told me that my mother passed away; she died of heart problems. It was sudden and totally unexpected. I remember being enveloped by this overwhelming desire to just scream. I don’t think any of us can truly prepare for such a devastating event of so great an extent or degree to happen.