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This Is What It Means to Say Phoenix, Arizona analysis
This is what it means to say phoenix, arizona" by sherman alexie analysis
Summary of what it means to say phoenix arizona
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The ability to know what the future holds can be beneficial or detrimental. In the short story “This Is What It Means to Say Phoenix, Arizona” by Sherman Alexie, Thomas builds-the-fire is born with the special gift to read the future through his intriguing stories. He cherished this gift and held it close to him. Although, he did not only used it for himself but for the sake of his loved ones. Thomas Builds-The-Fire has the ability to tell stories that is bound to happen because he is given the power to protect the tribe no matter the circumstances.
Thomas’s vision helps Victor realize how his father truly feels about his family. Years before Victor's father’s death Thomas tells Victor “Your father’s heart is weak” and that he would rather
“Victor hadn’t seen his father in a few years, only talked to him on the telephone once or twice, but still there was a genetic pain, which was soon to be pain as real and immediate as a broken bone” Not only had Victor not seen
If no one would have stopped Victor, Thomas-build-the-fire would have died which clearly shows the readers that Victor is mentally troubled. Not only does he lose his father but, Victor also loses his best friend on that same day. In other words, Victor is mentally traumatized after the abandonment. In fact, Rothe Eugenio, a professor in the department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Health at Florida Inter... ... middle of paper ... ...
A person's next move can affect them and someone in their life without them even realizing it. So why would they want to make the decision that could result in a sudden death in their family ? It is only right they be held accountable for the steps that lead up to or occurred after, they got entrapped in a life or death situation unless, it happens to be an accident.
After the death of William and Justine, Victor falls into a depression because he is disturbed with the guilt of the death of William and Justine.
Growing up, Victor and Thomas didn’t get a long so well. Thomas was often annoying and Victor just wanted to be left alone. Thomas often talked of Arnold and Victor never wanted to talk about his deserted father. The last thing that Victor wanted to do was talk about the father that bailed on...
A reckless abandonment cost Victor and others, their lives. The Creation killed everyone Victor loved as vengeance for his treatment and isolation. Nevertheless, Victor chose to keep his knowledge of his own doing a secret and watched in guilt as many people, including his own family, died. Victor’s ignorance becomes the
...he window and see his own creation killing his wife. As a result of all the deaths in Victor’s family, his father kills himself because he cannot stand all the grief that he has been struck with. His death is a result of the hideous monster that his own flesh and blood created, but he will never know that because Victor will not tell anyone.
In the first scene of Smoke Signals there is a flash back to when Arnold Joseph, Victor's father saves infant Thomas and Victor from a raging house fire that kills both of Thomas's parents. The flash back shows the fire that encompasses Victor started very early in his life. Thomas states, "You know, there are some children who aren't really children at all. They're just pillars of fire that burn everything they touch." (Smoke Signals) This comment vividly describes who Victor is as a human. A few scenes later you once again see the movie flash back to when Victor and Thomas were around ten years old. Thomas is giving Victor a hard time about his father leaving which results in Victor threatening to beat Thomas up again. One can hear the anger spewing from Victor's mouth and the pain that lies beneath the
“Smoke Signals” is a movie that describes living conditions for Native Americans. Victor and Thomas are the main characters in the movie. Victor is a tough Indian guy who is hard to handle, even though he has a special attitude towards his mother. Thomas is a nerd, who is smart, and he enjoys telling stories to anyone. Victor’s father, Arnold Joseph, causes a fire accidently on Independence Day in 1976 on the reservation in Idaho in which Thomas’s parents died, but he miraculously saved Tomas from the fire. Even though Victor hates his father because of father’s addiction to alcohol, he manages to forgive him at the end of the movie.
Victor knew he was a Native American that lived on the reservation. However, as he has grown up, it seems he has forgotten the tribal ties of the Native Americans. The people of that culture consider everyone in the tribe to be family and they are not ashamed of who they are and where they come from. Towards the end of the fictional narrative it is said, “Victor was ashamed of himself. Whatever happened to the tribal ties, the sense of community? The only real thing he shared with anybody was a bottle and broken dreams. He owed Thomas something, anything” (519). At the end of the story, Victor has finally realize that he is acting self absorbed. He realizes that this is not who he wants to be and he should not be ashamed to talk to Thomas Builds-a-Fire. Remembering his tribal ties, Victor gives half of his father 's ashes to Thomas. By doing that, Victor is thanking Thomas in his own way. Victor said, “listen, and handed Thomas the cardboard box which contained half of his father. “I want you to have this” (519). Individuals on the reservation thought Thomas was just a madman with weird stories. But in reality he was always true to his tribal identity and has even taught Victor how to get back to that. For example Thomas says, “I’m going to travel to Spokane Falls one last time and toss these ashes into the water. And your father will rise like a salmon, leap over the bridge, over me, and find his way
Victor’s father’s death would be tougher on Victor than William’s, Henry’s, and Elizabeth’s death because they communicated more emotionally with each other then other characters. “What then become of me? I know not; I lost sensation, and chains and darkness were the only objects that pressed upon me.” (Shelley, 189) This quote depicts the lack of sensation Victor faces after the death of his father.
Everything starts to change once Victors ambitions become his life. He leaves to study at Ingolstadt, where his destiny begins to unfold. This is when Victor’s isolation begins. The search for the secrets of life consumes him for many years until he thinks he has found it. For months, he assembles what he needs for his creation to come alive.
With the different trips that Victor endures individually, it hints a sense of individuality as he seeks isolation from the world. He is also a very emotional man, who loves his family. As death of his family members occurs, he becomes emotionally unstable and seeks revenge against his creation. Ultimately trying to end the life he so vigorously wanted to create. This reflects both the passion and individualism theme from the Romantic
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.
In the absence of similar works "in the canon" it is hard not to feel as though, (as the character Ishmael promised), if you accept their premises you are doomed to isolation for, those who see the future most clearly are usually outcasts, lost as to what power they may have to change minds and directions.