“This is what it means to say Phoenix, Arizona” By Sherman Alexie

Thesis Statement

The research illustrates the light upon the book “This Is What It Means to Say Phoenix, Arizona” by Sherman Alexie which evokes true emotion, it explains the realities of peer pressure, and it conveys humility in kindness.

Introduction

“This Is What It Means to Say Phoenix, Arizona,” which some years after it was in writing supplied most of the contrive underpinnings of Alexie's first video, Smoke Signals, presages some of the subsequent anxieties of Alexie's innovative Reservation Blues (1995), in which Victor and Thomas and some other “skins” conceive an all-Indian blues band renowned as Coyote Springs, and they proceed on the road. This story, although, is precisely organized round report of Victor's father's death in Arizona and the task of retrieving his ashes, vintage pickup motor truck, and unassuming savings and returning north.

Thomas is perhaps Alexie's most compelling feature in periods of being profoundly ensconced within his tribal traditions yet still willing and adept to critique those traditions and articulate various ironies. As Thomas welcomes Victor at the tribal trading mail and expresses condolences for his loss, Victor inquires how Thomas wise of Victor's father's passing. Thomas, the tribal storyteller, says: “I LEARNED IT ON THE WIND. I LEARNED IT FROM THE BIRDS. I FELT IT IN THE SUNLIGHT. ALSO, YOUR MOTHER WAS JUST IN HERE CRYING.” (Alexie 8) Thomas extends all through the story as both an avatar of traditional performs and an ironic commentator on it.

Although Victor had an awkward relationship with his father, as well as with Thomas, part of their journey to Arizona engages Thomas recounting experiences with Victor's father. This conceives a sort of up to date storehouse of new tales, set in towns and at national-chain restaurants. Thomas recognizes having a vision at age thirteen, causing him to travel more than fifty miles to get to Spokane Falls. Although Thomas anticipates to have a vision at the falls, it is Victor's father who finds Thomas on the connection overpass, feeds him at Denny's restaurant, and drives him back to the reservation, allowing Thomas to infer that his vision comprised of the understanding that people are here to be careful of one another.

This insight and vision supply the absolutely crucial meaning of the story. Even though Thomas's mother past away in childbirth, and he was increased by his grandmother, he understands the loss that Victor feels in losing even a missing father. Thomas's cash and companionship are without coercion granted to Victor in alignment to look after him in this literal, personal route in the direction of adulthood. The story concludes with the two juvenile men back in Washington State. As they part after their long excursion, Victor devotes one-half of his father's ashes to Thomas, and both men design to come back the ashes to the stream at Spokane Falls, continuing to add sections to the stories which Thomas has currently been telling and retelling. (Alexie 20)

 

Discussion

Sherman Alexie's story, “This Is What ...