In Christopher Klein's the tect "The First Great American Road Trip," he discusses Dr. Jackson's journey from Vermont to New York City. Klein mentions how someone bet Jackson fifty dollars that he would not be able to make it to New York City by car in less than 90 days. He also explains how all the odds were against this being able to happen due to factors like unpaved roads, no road signs, no road numbers or gas stations, and the fact that the likelihood of automobiles breaking down was fairly high. With this being said, Klein's attitude towards Dr. Jackson throughout this text influences his portrayal of him by Klein describing the adversity he faced, including pieces of background information about Jackson's life, and providing his readers …show more content…
Klein grants his readers with many forms of advertising that Jackson experienced while attempting to make it from Vermont to New York City in less than a ninety- day period. For example, Klein mentions how "previous cross-country trips had all ended in failure," hinting that Dr. Jackson was up for a challenge. While Klein explains how unpaved roads are going to play a huge part in this roadtrip, he also explains that "fewer than 150 miles nationwide were even paved." Klein expounds on the many different kinds of challenges that Jackson faced upon his journey, like a tire blowing not even "15 miles outside of San Francisco," streams that had never come in contact with any kind of vehicle, and even the sad events of "[w]rong turns and breakdowns." All of these explanations of difficult opposition mean a lot when Jackson still managed to make the trip in less than ninety days. meaning that the author definitely sees him as a respectable individual. Klein does not fail to incorporate pieces of background information about Dr. Jackson's life prior to this …show more content…
Klein also touches on the fact that "at least he had his wife's inherited fortune to fuel his impulsive voyage." Knowing details like this about a person's life shows that Klein knows enough about Jackson to be able to have an attitude about him that portrays him as hero-like. He also provides his audience with a chronological outlook of Jackson's trip. It is obvious that Jackson faced many challenges on this unusual attempt to complete a roadtrip in a certain period of days, however, there is no way to know the exact dates of it all, unless one reads this text. Klein gives a description of this trip from start to finish, with dates. For instance, "In the early afternoon of May 23, 1903, Dr Horatio Nelson Jackson and Sewall Crocker slid into the front seat of a gleaming, cherry-red Winton touring car and chugged down San Francisco's Market Street amid a sea of horse-drawn carriages" (Klein). The author continues to provide readers with the dates of certain events that happened throughout this trip. Giving dates of everything that happened on this trip reveals that Klein sees this trip as very
This story made me frustrated at the way people get forced into a rut that they can’t escape. Jackson Jackson isn’t completely innocent, no one is, but most of his problems were a result from the wrong that others had inflicted upon him. The frustrating part was that He was incapable of getting himself out. He did things like spend money on alcohol and cheese burgers, only to end up throwing it all up and even less money. To me, this story is about redemption. Jackson received grace from people like the good cop, and the pawnbroker. None of his own efforts changed his situation, only the kindness of others changed him. These kind deeds helped reconcile the reality of Jackson’ life and his situation. In a story like this, I always hope for a
He has an internal conflict because he wants to save money to buy back his grandmother’s regalia from the pawnbroker, but he also wants to share his money and he receives money throughout the story. “‘I’m hoping, and I don’t know why I’m hoping it, but I hope you can turn thirty bucks into a thousand somehow.’ ‘I believe in magic.’ ‘I believe you’ll take my money and get drunk on it’” (Alexie para 230). When he receives money, he always ends up spending it on alcohol and sometimes spends it on food. He never spends all his money on himself. Jackson has a man versus nature conflict and a man versus man made environment conflict. His man vs. man made environment conflict occurs when he is too drunk to find a good place to sleep. He ends up falling asleep on train tracks. An example of Jackson’s man vs. mother-nature, “’I was cold and sleepy,’ I said. ‘So I lay down.’ ‘You dumb-ass, you passed out on the railroad tracks.’ I sat up and looked around. I was lying on the railroad tracks’” (Alexie para 195). Jackson also has a conflict with white society. “‘One day you have a home and the next you don’t, but I’m not going to tell you my particular reasons for being homeless, because it’s my secret story, and Indians have to work hard to keep secrets from hungry white folks’” (Alexie para 1). Jackson also has a man versus man conflict with Honey Boy, who tries to get Jackson to hook up with him but Jackson says he’s not a homosexual. “‘I’m flattered, Honey Boy, but I don’t play on your team.’” (Alexie para 165). Jackson does not show any signs of complexity. He is also a stereotypical homeless man. He does spend the majority of the money he gets on alcohol. Jackson also is dynamic since he clearly changes because in the beginning he was just a homeless man with his friends with nobody really paying attention to him, then at the end he felt that everybody stopped to watch him
Jackson was always ready to fight for his country. When he was young he went to train at West Point to become a soldier and leader. He wasn’t as bright as some of the other students, but he worked hard pushing to succeed. In the end he ended up 17th in his class, giving him the chance to become 2nd Lieutenant of Artillery in the Mexican War. He lived through the war with no problems. He was admired by the army for his courage, he never backed down. After the Mexican War he went to VMI (Virginia Military Institute) to teach. He had two classes, Natural & Experimental Philosophy and Artillery tactics. He was no professor but a great artillery instructor.
middle of paper ... ... If Jackson did not change his view of life, work hard at everything he did, and excel at sports, who knows where he would be today? He could be sitting in a jail cell because he never changed his ways and lost his temper, or he could still be living in a small house in a small town.
Growing up on the North/South Carolina border, Jackson’s exact state of birth is debatable. Unlike most historians, Jacksons ascertained that he was from South Carolina. Wherever he actually grew up, it is unequivocal that it was a truculent and violent place to be raised. During his childhood, Jackson became accustomed to the social imperatives of the land; hard work, and military spirit. Specifically, in his hometown, one used “[their ]military spirit to defend yourself, and [their] hands to pull something out of the soil”. Here, Meachem believes the constant exhaustion and threat of violence was “one of the many reasons Jackson became a man who was so prone to violence. He grew up with it, he didn’t know anything else”.
B. J., Jackson as a President: Yesterday and Today. Planet Papers. Retrieved June 14, 2009,
Inside him, his everyman upbringing and experiences still greatly influenced him and his beliefs. To see that he was a true “Man of the People,” one must look no further than his actions once he surpassed his boundaries and became a wealthy plantation-owner. Even when Jackson became a poster-boy for the old-money elites of Early America, Jackson still never forgot his origins or his upbringing. From his first day in politics to the last, Jackson dedicated himself to enhance and improve the life and existence of the common man. Even when his decisions would affect his support, funding, or social standing, Jackson always kept the people’s interests at
There are hints in the story that lead to the assumption that Jackson is depressed. Jackson mentions that he is disappearing piece by piece. He is also constantly drunk, presumably because he is displeased with his life. He ended up on the railroad tracks after getting drunk. Jackson wanted to get killed if he willingly laid down on the tracks. When the cop finds Jackson on the tracks, he mentions to him that he was in a fight with “Mr. Grief.” When the cop mentions that Mr. Grief knocked Jackson out, he replies that Mr. Grief always wins. Mr. Grief symbolizes Jackson’s depression and his internal struggle with himself.
Throughout the story Jackson can be found executing many unexplainably kind acts. Obviously, Jackson is not in a position to give out much being homeless and jobless, but he makes a major impact on the world he lives in through giving all that he has to those around him. After Jackson wins one hundred dollars on a scratch off ticket, he gives the cashier, who he flirts with jokingly, twenty dollars out of his winnings. She did not want to take his money, but Jackson exclaims, “It’s an Indian thing. When you win, you’re supposed to share with your family” (Alexie). Jackson did not owe the young cashier anything, and he was in far worse shape than the cashier was in. This man is homeless and jobless and he gave out one fifth of his earning like it was nothing. For all Jackson knows, he may never see one hundred dollars ever again, but that never stopped him from sharing his new found wealth with those around him. The next thing Jackson does is buy eighty dollars worth of shots at an Indian bar for everyone attending. Again, Jackson goes out of his way to show kindness to others. One hundred dollars worth of lottery winnings all gone. Barely one cent went to him or his important regalia
Jackson is proud of his heritage and throughout the story references the way of the Indians, whilst befriending and conversing with a number of other tribal relatives. Jackson, even admits, “Being homeless is probably the only thing I’ve ever been good at. at.” Despite his failure, he is still an Indian man, searching for a proclamation of his. heritage in his grandmother’s regalia.
Andrew Jackson is one of the most controversial presidents. Many regard him as a war hero, the father of the Democratic Party, an inspiring leader, and a spokesman for the common man. While there is plenty to praise about the seventh president, his legacy is tarnished by his racism, disregard for the law of the land, cruelty towards the Native Americans, and ruthless temper. Jackson was an intriguing man who was multi-faceted. One must not look at a singular dimension, and cast judgment on him as a whole. To accurately evaluate one of the most complex presidents, it is crucial to observe Jackson from all possible angles. Prior lifestyle, hardships in life, political ideology, lifestyle of the time, political developments, and his character
Jackson wants to find something that will make him feel like he has done something for his culture and his people. These sayings 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 to gain back the regalia and ultimately find his personal identity. Given that he is Native American, the reader might assume that Jackson has a feeling of resentment towards white people due to the displacement of his people. From the beginning of the story, Jackson reveals a protective feeling caused by white people.
named after him. As readers we begin to learn the type of man that Jackson indeed
In “A Worn Path,” Jackson character is related to the theme of love, persistence and racial prejudice. Jackson demonstrates love for her grandson as she risk her life through the cold weather to retrieve medicine for her grandson. Her devotion and bravery showed the love that she had for her grandson. In today’s society, you would not see family or friends who care enough for their loved ones to risk their life to help get something that is beneficial for someone else. People who would go great lengths to protect someone they love is rare. Not only did she care for him, but she loved him. Jackson perseverance is shown as she faced the hostile and corrupt world. While keeping warm she must crawl under barbed-wired fences, walk through a maze and protect herself from the wild animals. Not only are these her problems as she takes her occasionally trips to Natchez, she must deal with the pain of age, poverty and racial prejudice, which was a factor during her lifetime. Although she faced perseverance she stayed consistent. The story does not focus on racial issues, but it is implied in the context. Consider the hunter who made racial slurs about blacks going to see Santa Clause or the attendant and shopper calling her granny. Interestingly, the people who she encountered at first were somewhat treating her with kindness. The narrator does not reveal their race, but
First, Jackson begins by establishing the setting. She tells the reader what time of day and what time of year the story takes place. This is important to get the reader to focus on what a typical day it is in this small town. The time of day is set in the morning and the time of year is early summer. She also describes that school has just recently let out for summer break, letting the reader infer that the time of year is early summer. The setting of the town is described by the author as that of any normal rural community. Furthermore, she describes the grass as "richly green" and that "the flowers were blooming profusely" (196). These descriptions of the surroundings give the reader a serene felling about the town. Also, these descriptions make the reader feel comfortable about the surroundings as if there was nothing wrong in this quaint town.