What You Pawn I Will Redeem Summary

There are different types of people in this world. Some of them value material things other value family. In the story “What You Pawn I Will Redeem,” by Sherman Alexie, Jackson was a homeless Indian man whose actions made him seem that he didn’t care about money. He was driven to accomplish something in order to get back his grandmother’s regalia.

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

counter, and we search for that yellow bead and found it hidden beneath the armpit” (Alexie 3). In that moment Jackson knew that it was his grandmother regalia that he had to have it with him. He had nothing to be motived about other than living for the alcohol. This regalia was about to change his life. The problem was that the owner of this regalia wasn’t going to give it to him just like that because he had pay for it and, so Jackson had to pay for it too, but he had not money.
There are times when people wish to have a lot of money, to buy or do anything they want. In many cases people don’t have what they need, but working hard is the solution. Sherman Alexie states, “That’s too bad,” he said, and thought hard about the possibilities. “I’d sell it to you for nine-hundred and ninety-nine dollars. I’d lose a dollar. That would be a moral thing to do in this case. To lose a dollar would be the rights thing” (4). When Jackson saw the possibilities of him having back his grandmother’s regalia he got motivates and he started thinking about what was he going to do in order get all the money. The pawnbroker gave him twenty four hours to get the money. It is a very little amount of time, but at least he gave Jackson hope. Jackson was positive that he was going to get that amount of money, but he didn’t know what he was going to do. The biggest motivation that he had was probably his grandmother. He knew that she was a great woman who helped many people.
People need to have motivation in their lives in order to accomplish what they want.

Jackson had to accomplish something in less than twenty four hours. In the story What You Pawn I will Redeem, Sherman Alexie states that, “I know it’s crazy, but I wondered whether I could bring my grandmother back to life if I brought back her regalia. I needed money, big money, so I left Junior and walked over to the Real Change Office” (6). Jackson left his drunk homeless friend and went into the search for those nine hundred and ninety-nine dollars. He was very encouraged, his grandmother’s memory helped him fight for something in life. In this case that regalia was what he wanted more than anything else. Knowing that his grandma was a wonderful woman he didn’t want to let her down at least not in this because that regalia was very important to her. Jackson did many different thing in order to get that money, but he

fail.
It was twelve o’clock, Jackson when to the store. He showed up with a great attitude even though he didn’t have the money. ‘“Did you work hard for this money?” he asked. “Yes” I said. He close his eyes and thought harder about the possibilities. Then he stepped into the back room and returned with my grandmother’s regalia”” (Alexie 20). Jackson was an honest man who told the truth even though he couldn’t get the money. He worked hard on his own way, but his honesty helped him more. The pawnbroker saw sine the beginning that Jackson was positive and encouraged of getting his grandmother’s regalia back. Other people may say that Jackson was just a drunk man who only care about alcohol, but he worked hard on his own way.
Jackson accomplished what he wanted. He tried very hard to get the money and even though he failed in everything he still got what he wanted. Being motivates and honest is the first step to achievement. Never give up on anything helps people to be better humans. This world is full of obstacles, but there are solutions to everything.