Analysis Of Superman And Me By Sherman Alexie

“I read with equal parts joy and desperation.” This sentence from Sherman Alexie’s Superman and Me is thought provoking because at this point in the story you think he reads because he loves to. But when you read this sentence in particular you start to think about the reasons he would be reading besides just for joy. The quote says that he reads with equal desperation and joy, so he reads books for joy and despair. Though what is there to despair overall he has a good life, good home, good food? What was he agonizing over trying to save his life. So he could get a good job and have a life.”I was trying to save my life.”
The absolute impact this sentence has on the story is extraordinary. It gives you a second reason to sympathize for Sherman. But it tells you that he is desperately trying to save his life so he doesn't end up like his parents. His parents don't know if they are going to be able to keep their jobs. In the same paragraph the quote originated from he is saying that he used to read anything anytime anywhere. Which can make the reader infer that he is very desperate to change his future. This also makes Sherman very mature for his age ,at the time, because only a very mature person would look so far into the future and think I need to change before something

dreadful happens.” I loved those books, but I also knew that love had only one purpose. I was trying to save my life.”
The quote has a much deeper meaning to it as well.

The quote means that he reads because he loves to, but he also reads because of fear. He fears that he will turn out like all the others who don’t care about school. But he wants to change it as fast as possible. The reason Sherman added this small piece of information is to show that he was petrified for what might happen if he hadn’t changed his future. He wanted to show that if he hadn’t started reading then he would be like all the other kids who just didn’t care.”Then there are the sullen and already defeated kids who sit in the back rows and ignore me.” He didn’t want to be like these kids he was saving himself from being

uneducated.
Overall this quote has a big role in the last paragraphs of Superman and me. That role being the that Sherman depicted his fears of reality and how his life might be ruined if he doesn’t do something now, he will regret it forever. But Sherman is willing to do anything to change the future. So he reads everywhere and anytime no matter what the circumstances are. Whether he might be in a shop or at the table reading the back of a cereal box. Sherman Alexie is willing to do anything to be successful in his life.