More handpicked essays just for you.
What does the ending of sherman alexie's "what you pawn i will redeem" mean to you
The importance of magic in literature
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
What is the significance of the regalia in the story? Are regalia just a product described in Bauman theory that it is a temptation of human desire that has a limited time of gratitude or is it more than that? Magic For many years, people grow up in a society where it is easily assessable to consume goods whenever they want. In the circumstance, that they have money or willingness to sacrifice their time. Being raised by a society controlled by money, it is easy to forget what one really values. The “consumer society” is changing people to focus on their selves and seek goods as a form of achieving happiness rather than a functional way to finding one’s identity. In the story What You Pawn I Will Redeem, by Sherman Alexie, the regalia are not a product that people typically viewed as decorative cloth, to Jackson. It …show more content…
Regalia for Jackson were just like that a magic that changed his life. The moment he saw the “old powwow-dance regalia” hanging in the window he was certain that it was his grandmother’s stolen regalia (Alexie, 440). Jackson memory of his grandmother becomes even more significant when he imagines his “grandmother dancing in it” (Alexie, 440). The image that Jackson creates of his grandmother wearing regalia represents how sentimental he feels toward the regalia that reminds him of his grandmother. Bringing a memory that happened more than ten years ago shows how he is still stuck in that moment with his grandmother and is willing to go back. It was magical for him to vividly visualize his grandmother coming alive in his mind. Now that he felt this emotion seeing his grandmother’s lost regalia he desperately wants it back. Even though Jackson did not have a proper job or even a house to sleep in. This affection towards regalia is an illustration of the extent that Jackson has to go to in order to go closer to his
Jackson describes in more detail of how he felt more like his grandmother after he wrapped the regalia around him. The pedestrians, city, everything around him was watching him feel like his grandmother, like some sort of flashback he could be
Jackson Jackson, who is of Native American descent, lost his home due to reasons he does not want to share, but is actively trying to turn his life around. (Alexie 1433) The author, Sherman Alexie, who is also of Native American heritage, put him in the story to show the passion and drive in Native Americans. Since, they have been run out of their homes for the past hundreds of years, they now feel like they are “invisible”, not hated. Jackson goes on a quest to try to buy back his grandmothers regalia, which can be seen as a metaphor of him trying to get his life back together. Even though he continues to fail at getting the necessary amount of money to buy it back, Jackson continues to try. Jackson shares a philosophical theory with the father in “When The Emperor Was Divine”, in that “it’s better to bend than to break”. (Otsuka 78) What he means is that it is better to resist than to give up. For instance, Jackson could have just given up at the pawn shop and not tried to buy back the regalia that he knew was his grandmothers, but instead he tried to buy it back. Even though he kept spending the money he earned, he continued to work for more. (Alexie 1448) Despite earning over one hundred and fifty dollars, Jackson spent it on; food, alcohol, and lottery tickets. Even with all of this spending Jackson never gave up on his goal of buying back his grandmothers regalia. Moreover, Jackson refused to make up excuses as to why he cannot get the regalia. Even though for years Native Americans have been seen as “liars” he does not use that as an excuse to stop trying. (Alexie 1436) At no point in the story did Jackson ever act like he was a different ethnicity, or try to become a different person. Even when he ended up with the same amount money that he began with he still went back to the pawn
Through this battle with himself, Jackson continues to pursue the regalia. Gaining the regalia is about gaining pride. Jackson mentions to the newspaper owner that, “It’s now a quest. I need to win it back myself” (14). Jackson also mentions to the cop, “I’m on a mission here. I want to be a hero” (24). Jackson wants to find something that will make him feel like he has done something for his culture and his
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.
Gaining the regalia is about gaining pride. Jackson mentions to the newspaper owner that, “It’s now a quest. I need to win it back myself” (14). Jackson also mentions to the cop, “I’m on a mission here. I want to be a hero” (24). Jackson wants to find something that will make him feel like he has done something for his culture and his people. These saying 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 of gaining back the regalia and ultimately finding his personal
In 1899 Thorstein Veblen wrote The Theory of the Leisure Class: An Economic Study of Institutions. In this work, Veblen presented critical thinking that pertains to people’s habits and their related social norms. He explores the way certain people disregard the divisions that exist within the social system, while subsequently emulating certain aspects of the leisure class in an effort to present an image of higher social status. He also presented the theory of conspicuous consumption, which refers to an instance when a person can fulfill their needs by purchasing a product at a lower cost that is equal in quality and function to its more expensive counterpart; however, said person chooses to buy the more expensive product, by doing so, they are attempting to present an image of a higher social status. The almost 110 year cycle between 1899 and 2010 reveals few differences in buying behaviors, other than the differing selection of luxury goods to indulge, or over-indulge in.
A homeless and drunk man like Jackson had no motivation in his life until he saw something that made him motivate and work for it. According to Sherman Alexie, Jackson said, “that’s my grandmother’s regalia in your window,” I said. “Somebody stole it from her fifty years ago, and my family has been searching for it since” (3). He saw his grandmother’s regalia maybe it brought him memories. He was a homeless man with no family and he wanted to have something that could make him feel like he had somebody else besides himself. He got surprise when he saw that regalia because according to him, his family was searching for it a long time ago. “he pulled out the regalia out of the window, laid it down on the glass
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
He believes that this helps him to define himself. He is aware of this new successful way so he continues to try to find himself in friends and other acquaintances. Yet, he often fails. His closest friends are Rose of Sharon and Junior who are Indians as well. The masses generally assume that close friends have similar habits, hobbies and attitudes. When Jackson and his friends see that the stolen regalia is in the pawnshop (10), his soul feels empty and lonely despite being surrounded by friends. Alexie intentionally puts the regalia in a pawnshop instead of a more respected place, such as a museum or gallery. As technology became more sophisticated after the Industrial Revolution, the regalia began to lose value and respect. The pawnshop symbolically shows the lack of admiration and respect of the regalia and the loss of identity in Jackson. Jackson wants to recover the regalia and his traditions, but he is unable to redeem the regalia due to the shopkeeper’s unreasonable prices. He gains hope to obtain the regalia whenever he wins the lottery. This hope later dwindles as Jackson starts wasting the money he won from the lottery. He goes into the bar for Indians and spends his money buying shots for other Indians (18). The Big Heart bar is another symbol used to show Jackson’s identity quest. The bar is special, and it allows Jackson to recognize himself because there are only Indians in the bar. Jackson can uncover his true self inside the bar when drinking with his brothers and sisters. Furthermore, the Big Heart bar symbolically illustrates the lousy habits and poor choices Jackson makes every day as well. After getting drunk, Jackson passes out on the railroad tracks (21). Railroad tracks are a symbol for his life. His situation is due to his past life choices, and he feels confused about the future and his inability to obtain the lost regalia. After trying to obtain
In Sherman Alexie's What You Pawn I Will Redeem the main character and protagonist Jackson Jackson embarks on a heroic quest to raise funds to buy his grandmother's powwow regalia from a pawnshop. Although he is homeless, Jackson finds it necessary to purchase the regalia. The narrator of Linda Hogan's “Heritage” would argue that this regalia proves to be an intrinsic part of Jackson's identity. Jackson has nobody of true significance in his life except his two friends, Rose of Sharon and Junior, who are not really his friends. As a result, Jackson longs for a connection to something or someone who will provide him a purpose in life. Jackson, albeit only having just seen the regalia for the first time, holds a deep connection to his family's
When Jackson says, “That’s my grandmother’s powwow regalia in your window. Somebody stole it from her fifty years ago, and my family has been searching for it ever since, (Alexie.12)” the stolen regalia symbolizes how the Natives homeland and self-worth was taken away from them. Officer Williams attempts to tell Jackson to report the regalia stolen. However Jackson replies, “I don’t want to do that,” I said. “It’s a quest now. I need to win it back by myself.” (Alexie.7) That moment is the starting point of where Jackson is becoming ambitious; the point he determines his goal in life. It becomes clear to him that the regalia will revive their culture once again. After the journey, Jackson only ends up with what he started with, five dollars. Despite this he goes back to the pawn shop. He tells the pawnbroker he does not have the money they agreed to. However, the pawnbroker returns the regalia because Jackson worked for the money he had. The pawnbroker’s generosity symbolizes the kindness of the natives. Generosity is a major theme in the novel and is displayed through the characters, especially
Corrosive consumption doesn’t play a big part in our society anymore. Think back to the early 1900’s when the rich would flaunt their money and values to prove they in fact have a higher ranking, while the lower or working class would show the struggle through their average clothes and way of living. Now coming into the era of the people that are known as millennials, it is a whole new ball game. Throughout the decades millionaires and high class people started to down grade when it comes to representing their wealth. For example, my grandpa Thola's brother was a millionaire and nobody knew it, not even the family until he passed away. He was the owner and founder of Preston Quarries that was bought out by Wendling Quarries about 15 years
Products often become more important to humans than anything else because people are more concern about greed and excessive luxuries, rather than the health and well-being of their loved ones. Your morality should focus less on objects and more on the humans that are being interacted with. Following the trends affect people from wanting to fit in with current day fashion, so they would not stand out as an outcast towards society. This can also cause strained relationships towards your family, and peers, because of the lack of commnication while trying to impress others. Many sneakers like Yeezys and Jordans are simlar in a way that every consumer becomes more addicited to the shoe rather than its purpose. These influences on, materialitics products can, cause others to simply go with the flow and buy theses nonchalant products for no reason, this bandwagon affect set trends all over. Cultural consumption is in everyday activites for entertainment purposes and to high-end retail, the hierachy of those who have better things versus the ones on the low totem that does not. New and old generations compete with the value of commodities that are given. In the end, products are just material things humans need to feel comfortable, these objects can take on a life of their own while increasing the means of the
Many people take pride in what they have and will show off their wealth and materials to anyone and everyone. This type of person is one on the pilgrimage to the shrine, and we know him as the Merchant. The Merchant is the fashionista of the group. He is described as wearing a motley dress with a Flemish beaver hat and daintily buckled boots. He was a man that worked hard to support his marriage but even though he worked hard he was in debt. The people around him did not see him as being in debt because he was always working to support himself. The Merchant is described at the middle class man. One who has to work hard to get what he needs and to be what he wants to be. This type of person can also be seen at a rock concert. Much of the time people are buying concert tickets with the money they earned from work. One works hard and treats themselves to have a much needed good time. These types of people at a rock concert are usually the ones who are just sitting and enjoying the music. They are not trying to cause any type of scene, but trying to get their money’s worth out of the concert. The middle class, like the Merchant is has nice things and always look presentable. Many times people choose to spend their money in different ways. One might pick to work hard and buy themselves nice things like the
To understand deeply the phenomenon of symbolic consumption, we must first understand what it means. According to Kerrigan et al. (2004), symbolic consumption deals with the consumption of products and services as sources of meaning. An important aspect of symbolic consumption is that consumers no longer consume products simply for their functional value, but for their symbolic value, for what these products mean to themselves and to others (Kerrigan et al 2004). In other words, these products more or less become commodity signs. Digital-era commodity goods like the iPhone are symbolic markers or what Thorstein Veblen would call conspicuous consumption or “status symbols” (2007). To make sense of this rapturous reception, the iPhone would however now be examined as a notable instance of symbolic consuming culture.