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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
This is what it means to say phoenix, arizona - sherman alexie essay
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I decided to focus on “This Is What It Means to Say Phoenix, Arizona.” By Sherman Alexie. Sherman started the story with the main character, Victor, already facing setbacks. The story interested me due to having a tense situation from the beginning. I believe, the transition from beginning, to end started with the sentence, “I’ve got some money saved,” Thomas said. “It’s enough to get us down there, but you have to get us back.” (247). I chose this point as it gave Victor, hope. This opened the opportunity for him to retrieve his father.
The transition from the middle, to end, began after the sentence, “That’s why you came down here with me, isn’t it?” Victor asked. I came because of your father.” (250). Thomas had told this line to Victor.
One of the most surprising and uncommon events happened to me in the summer of 2015, Sedona, Arizona. It started out as a pleasant summer getaway; visiting the Grand Canyon, Sedona rock slides, and just having an amazing, memorable time with friends and family. One day, we decided that it would be enjoyable to have a picnic in the forest. The trees were deep green and lush. The tranquil, relaxing stream of a nearby river could be heard, and birds were chirping cheerfully. After lunch, we all decided upon venturing deeper into the forest near the river. On a rock, a single bright, pastel green caterpillar- equipped with unique spikes, caught our eyes. None of us had ever seen such a creature. We were captivated and intrigued. Since we were not
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).
Of the birds of Arizona, the cactus wren is likely to be the most well known, as it is the state bird. The cactus wren is a very vocal bird with the white eye stripes behind each of it’s eyes. Its breast is heavily flecked with dark brown and black, whilst its tail feathers alternate between black, brown and white. Its beak also has a faint curve to it. The cactus wren makes its home in a variety of desert environments, most commonly in the foothills with all manner of scrub such as yucca, mesquite, and its namesake, cactus. One of the most numerous birds of the city is quail who tend to live in washes and bushes as they are often too heavily weighted to fly far off the ground or for long distances. The Northern mockingbird also
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.
“This Is What It Means To Say Phoenix, Arizona” discusses the physical and mental journey of Victor, a Native American man in the state of Washington, as he goes to Phoenix, Arizona to claim his father’s remains and his savings account. While on this journey, Victor learns about himself, his father, and his Indian culture with the help of his estranged friend, Thomas Builds-the–Fire. The author, Sherman Alexie, plays on the stereotypes of Native Americans through the characters of Victor and Thomas. While Thomas is portrayed as the more traditional and “good” Native American, Victor comes across as the “bad” Native American. Through the use of this binary relationship, Alexie is able to illustrate the transformation of these characters as they reconcile with each other, and break out of these stereotypes in the process.
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
Eudora Welty establishes “The Worn Path” in the midst of the twentieth century – in an era where African Americans were not considered as equal to white Americans. Welty tells the story of Phoenix Jackson, an elderly African-American woman, who makes a lengthy voyage into town to get medication for her chronically ill grandson. For most people the journey from the countryside to a town in a city, would not be very difficult. However, the fact that old infirm Phoenix is faced with hindrances and some racist attitudes of people she encounters along the journey; she endeavors onward despite frequent hindrances in her path that include her own deteriorating health and the grandchild’s slim chance of subsistence.
When the novel begins, Tom Joad, the protagonist of the story has just been released from the state prison in Oklahoma. He makes his way home to his family to find that the area has been deserted with everyone being “tractored” off the land. Most families, including Tom’s are headed to California in search of new work and new lives. Tom finds his family and they decide to take a huge risk by giving up the land they’ve been tethered to for generations. This uprooting of their family begins a long, slow change in identity for many family members as well as family dynamics and structure.
I often wonder how I ended up in this little town in the mountains. I came from a relatively large city in Indiana, but knew that I had to escape the Midwest’s conservative grasp. I never really intended to end up in Flagstaff. For as long as I can remember, I had wanted to go to the University of Arizona and live in Tucson. I obviously didn’t end up in Tucson.
In “This Is What It Means to Say Phoenix Arizona” the first setting is on an Indian tribal land. “Just after Victor lost his job at the BIA (Bureau of Indian Affairs), he also found out that his father had died.” It is a federal agency responsible for management of Indian land...
The next part of the sets itself separately from the beginning of the poem, and allows the...
How would somebody be able to function after losing a job and a family member all at once? Sherman Alexie’s short story, “This is What It Means to Say Phoenix, Arizona,” demonstrates the importance of having past relationships to aid in self-identification. Victor, the main character, is responsible to get his father’s remains, however, his father was not part of his childhood. In addition, he lost his job at the Bureau of Indian Affairs. His cousin, Thomas tags along to give him the ability to look back on his past. While Victor lost his job and father, he is able to mature and gain a new understanding of himself.
In the short Story, This Is What It Means To Say Phoenix, Arizona by Sherman Alexie Victor is more of a serious person more likely to because of his father’s death. Thomas in the
Where a person grows up and lives are so much more than just a place. It is the people and objects around you. A community which more so than anything else dictates who they are. Why they hate, love, fear, and who they aspire to be. Culture influences and societal pressures mold adolescents into adulthood, and the person they will be. In “This is What it Means to Say Phoenix, Arizona” Sherman Alexie’s protagonist Victor is no different. Victor’s outlook on life is heavily influenced by his Indian culture, the condition of the reservation, and the people he has met that have left a lasting impression.
I had never seen such affection and care as I did from my family. After all the goodbyes, we made our way into the airport. I held on tight to my rolling suitcase as I walked to my future and I will never forget the love and support that stood there weeping. After waiting in the airport for over two hours, the plane finally arrived. I was sitting in my airplane seat slowly anticipating to see my mom that I hadn’t seen for six years. I remember the first day that I came to America. Getting out of that airplane exhausted and not being able t o walk because I had been sitting in the plane for 24 hours. I was in the Phoenix airport, looking around nervously in a peculiar place filled with strange people. But, the moment I saw my Mom and my family, I was serene once again.