In “This Is What It Means To Say Phoenix Arizona,” found in The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven, by Sherman Alexie, we are reintroduced to Victor and learn that his father has passed away. Victor and his childhood friend Thomas Build-the-Fire’s embark on a journey to Arizona to obtain Victor’s father’s ashes. Thomas reveals that he had made an assurance to Victor's father years before to help him when the time came. Although Victor had a problematic relationship with his father, as well as with Thomas, part of their trip to Arizona involves Thomas recounting his experiences with Victor's father and Victor’s ‘rebirth.’ Through the death of Victor’s father, Victor and Thomas come together.
Victor does not feel any real connection to the Native American Indian ways of life unlike Thomas, who is an obsessive storyteller. Thomas Builds-the-Fire’s name advocates his role on the reservation. Builds-the Fire can be interpreted as starting the stories, since fire needs an outside source to get started, so do the stories that are told. Thomas’ stories served a purpose when he was young, since Victor would ask him to tell his tales, but as he got older, people stopped caring. Even though he was not well respected for his stories by other Native Americans on the reservation, Thomas continued on with his tales. At one point Thomas says, “We are all given one thing by which our lives are measured, one determination. Mine are the stories which can change or not change the world. It doesn’t matter which as long as I continue to tell the stories […] I have no brothers or sisters. I have only my stories which came to me before I even had the words to speak. I learned a thousand stories before I took my first thousand steps. They are all ...
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... 74). Unlike Thomas, Victor was planning to do the same at first, but his credence changed. Thomas’ spirituality is pure and this scene brings them closer together because of their connection through Victor’s father.
“This Is What It Means To Say Phoenix Arizona” by Sherman Alexie represents rebirth and friendship. The story tells of the reawakening for Victor where he finds himself, thanks to Thomas-Builds-the-Fire. Victor comes to peace with himself, where before he was filled wrath. His self-discovery is similar to the rebirth of a phoenix, hence the title of the story. During the trip, Victor and Thomas recaptured something of the friendship that several burdens had helped abolish, but as they parted, both realized that things would return to the way they were. Ultimately, Victor’s father is what brings Victor and Thomas Builds-a-Fire together on a journey.
The moral of the story “Phoenix Farm” by Yolen, is “sometimes its better to rise up out of the ashes singing”. (Yolen 131)If you don’t know about the story, it’s pretty short but interesting, and still makes you question things at the end of the story. The story Phoenix Farm starts off with the narrator and her family’s house burns down during the great depression. Prior to this incident, the father left them, and according to the narrator he is dead. (To them at least) The fire forces the narrator’s family to move to their grandmother’s house. Before the narrator leaves the charred house, she finds an egg of some sort on the stairs, which seemed to be untouched by the flames, and has an odd red streak on it. The egg soon hatches at the grandmother’s
Sherman Alexie's literature often uses symbolic features relating to Native American culture. His characters tell their stories while Alexie tells his own story simultaneously. His 1993 short story, This is What It Means to Say Pheonix Arizona and later film adaption Smoke Signals focuses on two young native American men, Victor and Thomas on a journey to collect Victor's father's ashes. Throughout the journey, Victor reflects on previous events that relate to the death of his abusive father. Fire and Ash continually show up throughout the story; it can be seen through Victor's anger, actual fires and even symbolic fires. Although different,
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 ... ...
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.
He confessed to his father, and to Robert Walton, an also far to adventurous and daring man that was on his journey to crimes of pride, about creating life and playing God, he was genuinely apologetic about his mistake. He saved Robert from making the same mistake he did. They shared the same desire in wanting fame, “ Do you share my madness? Have you drunk also of the intoxicating draught? Hear me- let me reveal my tale, and you will dash the cup from your lips.” Ultimately Victor saved himself and Robert, “ or whither does your senseless curiosity lead you? Would you also create for yourself and the world a demoniacal enemy? Peace, peace! Learn my miseries, and do not seek to increase your
“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
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
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.
good intentions. However, Victor’s ego in his search for god-like capabilities overpowers his humanity. The creature
follow his father’s footsteps, but is obligated to stay to support his family. He feels the need to abandon all his problems and change his life’s fate. Through the symbol of the fireplace, Tennessee Williams suggests that people want to escape the confinements of reality to chase their dreams, but are restrained by their sympathizing emotions.
... show the reader that people in the world customarily really do not change. Victor contradicting himself leads Walton to understanding that his pursuit of knowledge may cause the deaths of his crew who have family and friends.
Kass, Amy A., Leon Kass, and Diana Schaub. "To Build a Fire." What So Proudly We Hail: The American Soul in Story, Speech, and Song. Wilmington, Del.: ISI Books, 2011. 67-80. Print.
Change is evident as an idea in the novel when Tom is reunited with his childhood preache...
Alexie, Sherman. "This Is What It Means To Say Phoenix, Arizona." Mandell and Kirszner 274-83.