“This is what it means to say Phoenix Arizona “is written with humor, symbolism and irony that makes you laugh and also want to cry. I liked the movie and viewed it as such; however, the written story gives more insight into these two characters, Victor and Thomas. In the story Sherman Alexie writes about fireworks, storytelling, and alcohol along with his Humor about the government.
“Its strange how us Indians celebrate the 4th of July. It ain’t like it was our independence everybody was fighting for”. The irony of this quote makes you laugh but when you really evaluate that line it makes you sad to think, we have put these people on a reservation , literally taken away any pride they might have and make them outcast in a land they were first to have inhabited! These Nations have turned to alcohol and only have the stories of their past to hand down to generations to come and as we see in this story, alcohol does take its toll on all, even Victor falls prey to its lure when he is talking to himself and says, “The only real thing he shared with anybody was a bottle and broken dreams”. Alcohol can take generations of families on a journey of despair and dread which makes it a way of life to mask the pain of the past and a bleak view of what the future may hold. Living on a reservation must be like living on an island; you get up everyday and see the same thing, same people same geography, why would you have anything but broken dreams. Lifetimes of Native Americans are spent there and if there is no hope or inspiration for you to do anything more why would you, there is always the “Res” to fall back on. This kind of thinking and life is like a nightmare that keeps slapping you down and takes away your dignity and motivation.
Sherman Alexie also throws in a bit of humor and symbolism and also plants an idea that the American government screws everyone, when Thomas-Builds-A-Fire strikes up a conversation on the airplane with a gymnast and she was commenting on the way the government screwed them out of the 1980 Olympics by boycotting. Thomas remarks, “Sounds like you all got a lot in common with Indians”. This I thought was very profound.
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Hi Mary,
ReplyDeleteThanks for your great ideas! I like that you’ve put this story in its historical and political context; part of what we see in the story are the results of colonialism. It’s interesting that Victor drinks in the story, but has never had alcohol in the film version. Your statement, “Alcohol can take generations of families on a journey of despair and dread which makes it a way of life to mask the pain of the past and a bleak view of what the future may hold” is strong! Alcoholism is theme in both the film and story; it’s a reality for the characters and something they have to deal with. Your statement highlights the way it affects not just the alcoholic, but the entire family and community.
Lauren :)
nice points. its crazy how alcohol can take ahold of a family and that it can be passed on from generation to generation. but in this case i think victor has identified a problem with alcohol with the REZ and tries not to have the same problem
ReplyDeleteMarynicole,
ReplyDeleteI really like how you break down the storylines. I liked your statement "Living on a reservation must be like living on an island". This statement has so much truth. You are right that lack of opportunity and despair over ones current circumstances does become cyclical and hard to break out of. I agree that this story is full of symbolism from a writer who lived it. He states that most of his work is autobiographical and so I have to believe that there is truth in his writing of Thomas and Victor and in the alcoholism that is part of the story line.
Yes the stroy does have a differnt way of explaining the characters that i liked better. It does change the way you look at them in the movie and story . also with the government and how vicot went to ask for money from the indian post. Great response.
ReplyDeleteI likes how you pointed out the history about everything it really had me thinking about how much Indians have gone through and how much the government have isolated them and everything that they have been limited to.
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