A Summary Of The Movie Smoke Signals

There are many scenes throughout the film that display Thomas’s need to be friends and heard by Victor. The scene in the market where Thomas offers to pay to get Victor to go to his dad in Phoenix, as long as he can come along is a great example. Both boys were raised together and both without a solid father figure. We learn that Victors father left when he was still a young boy due to alcohol and the fire being a prominent struggle in the native culture. After the scene where Victors father leaves, we see how the possible struggle between the boys began. We learn that Victor’s father had died and they traveled to get his ashes. Perhaps this a reason why Thomas is incessantly bringing up Victor’s dad and telling stories, true or not. is the

Many years later they meet again on several occasions but the intensifying stage does not resume until they finally become friends and share details about their past failed relationships. During this period they start spending a considerable amount of time together and their expression of feelings toward the other becomes more intense. We see the beginnings of a true interpersonal relationship development.

Throughout the story Victor replays moments in his mind. Times when he and Thomas were best of friends. Times when he loved listening to Thomas' visions about life and stories with hidden lessons. Times when Thomas was there for him and even a time when Thomas helped to save his life. The good memories turn to visions of Victor turning his back on his best friend. Victor is faced with the reality of his cruel actions and choices. Of how he chose to go with the rest of the 'pack' and attack the 'weak' one. Victor recalls being drunk when he was fifteen and beating up Thomas for the fun of it. How all of the other boys on the reservation just stood and watched and how he may have continued beating Thomas

75% of the 2.7 trillion dollars we spend on healthcare in this country is spent on treating diseases that are largely preventable, such as heart disease and diabetes. Why do you think this is happening? What can be done to change this statistic?

Of the all the central characters in Smoke Signals, Victor Joseph is the one whose struggle to cope with his past is at the forefront of the story. Many years after his father Arnold leaves home permanently, in 1998, his mother Arlene receives a phone call from Suzy Song, Arnolds final neighbor, informing her that Arnold died and that he and his stuff would be ready for someone to come pickup at his home near Phoenix. Reluctantly, Victor decides to take a trip down to Phoenix with Thomas, who offered to pay for the trip on the condition that he be allowed to travel with him. Early on in trip, Victor and Thomas talk with a gymnast named Cathy who claims to have been an alternate on the 1980 Olympic team. Victor quickly deduces that she is lying

Thomas introduced himself by saying, “I’m half magician on my mother’s side and half clown on my father’s” (Alexie, “This Is What” 286). Many people laughed at that joke and Cathy thought it was funny also, so they continue to have a conversation. Even though Victor is embarrassed at Thomas’s attempts to continue to talk with her, they realize that Cathy is friendly and they all enjoy talking to each other. Another example is Thomas says “Sounds like you all got a lot in common with Indians” (Alexie, “This Is what 286”). This joke made the situation awkward because nobody thought was funny. That shows that not everything is a joke and could get the people around him offended or mad. When the plane lands, Victor felt the need to say sorry and get the feeling out of his chest so he apologizes for beating up Thomas. Soon later they arrive at Victor’s father’s trailer. Victor’s father’s body was not found for a week, so the trailer smelled really bad and it is really hard for Thomas and Victor to go in to sort through the man's things. While they are looking and going through the trailer they both are telling stories about how they helped one another and how they will have each other’s

He tells of the void he feels in his soul. He tells of the bitter grief one experiences after the death of loved one and what it feels like to no longer see them and hear their voice. Mary Shelley illustrates that this life is not the end, but there is another life where loved ones will be seen. Victor’s mother is demonstrating how special Elizabeth is to her and that she wants her to take care of the family and to someday marry Victor. Later in the novel, Victor leaves for school. Victor’s father tells him, “I know that while you are pleased with yourself, you will think of us with affection, and we shall hear regularly from you. You must pardon me if I regard any interruption in your correspondence as a proof that your other duties are equally neglected”(33). After, Victor leaves for school to begin his studies he becomes self-absorbed in his work. Family is very important to Victor’s father. Victor realizes that he has become too involved in his studies and knows that it is unhealthy to behave in such a way. However, he does not want to quit and begins to justify his actions. He suggests that if others had given up, then history could have been altered. Victor feels isolated and lonely. He thinks of his family and how disappointed they are that they have not heard from him. Shelly uses this quote to emphasize the importance of human relationships and how important they are to a person’s well-being. The theme of human

Victor experiences alienation throughout the entirety of his life. From his childhood and family, to his scientific work and society, he chooses isolation. Victor was an only child in a ‘perfect’ family. He acquires an attraction to science and begins to educate himself. Victor tells of his past to Walton, “I was, to a great degree, self-taught with regard to my favorite studies. My father was not scientific, and I was left to struggle with a child’s blindness, added to a student’s thirst for knowledge” (Shelley 26). To begin his scientific studies, Victor leaves his family. He hardly has any contact with his family, and his isolation from them seems to have no effect on him at all. He decides when to have contact with his family at his discretion.

For most of my life, the word “Native American” had immediately made me think of feathers, powwows, and a society uncorrupted by civilization. However, in watching the movie Smoke Signals, a movie that depicts the modern Native American culture, I learned many other things. For one, I learned that many of the customs that modern Native Americans have are very similar to my own. I also saw that the family life of the Native Americans in the film had many of the same problems that my family had undergone in the past years. This film was unlike any that I have ever seen; therefore, it reached me on a very personal level.

The movie Smoke Signals is based on the series of short stories written by Sherman Alexie. Just like any movie, there is a meaning to it. Before this movie, when I thought of the phrase "Native American" I thought of things like feathers and societies that were impeccable. But after watching the movie, Smoke Signals, it portrays what being a Native American really means. It is not all fun and games. The protagonist, Victor Joseph, has many hard aspects of his life, but throughout it all he grows mentally. His personality in the beginning of the movie is mean and despicable, he is filled with wrath, but as the movie goes on his personality grows gradually. By the ending of the movie, he was a nicer and kinder.

It is often said that all good things come to an end. Relationships come and go, and some mean more than others. In fact, there was even a relationship model developed by a communication researcher by the name of Mark Knapp. In his model, he goes through what seems to be presented as a smooth step transition from each stage in which a relationship eventually evolves into. As I studied this up then down ladder model, I began to realize that I ought to build up some strong calf muscles, because my relationship sure has climbed up and down a few flights of stairs. Mark Knapp believes that relationships go through multiple stages, the uphill stages being initiation, experimenting, intensifying, integrating, bonding, then relational maintenance. On the flip side, Knapp believes the descending stages to be differentiating, circumscribing, avoiding, and eventually, termination.

The monsters extreme hatred of Victor for abandoning him, fuels his actions in killing William. The action displays the Monsters need for a parental connection. With a connection to Victor, the Monster's hatred would not have influenced his actions in killing William, since there would be no hatred. The necessity for a parental connection for the monster is paramount in the avoidance of unlawful acts.

Victor's story begins with a description of his childhood and the love that he shared with his friends and family. Up to this point the story has not embarked on his technological endeavors. In fact, it is still hard to imagine this story turning into anything remotely close to technology or horror.

When someone has a willingness to see and acknowledge their past faults and have a desire for change, they have the potential to revive a much brighter future with meaningful companionship. During the trip, victor glows deeper respect for Thomas. It was beyond victors belief that “Thomas, that

”(O’Hair 5) There are many different types of relationship, relationships between parents and children and relationships between friends are