Phoenix Arizona Symbolism

What appears to be a burden to Victor having to seek help from Thomas, in reality symbolizes the relationship between these two men within the context of their Native American heritage and history. Within the frequent flashbacks the reader learns , about the childhood relationship between the two men. We learn that Thomas Builds-the Fire the storyteller that no one wanted to listen to, something of an embarrassment to his fellow Native Americans, including Victor. However the twist is in that Victor arises respect towards Thomas at the end of the story and that is the great symbolic representation, the Phoenix raised from the fire. The first sign that is depicted in Victors change is when in a moment of flash back victor says, ““Everybody has dreams of flying. Thomas

Phoenix also symbolizes a mythical bird; she has “the regenerative qualities of the bird are seen in Phoenix’s determination each time she suffers a setback,” Like the bird how it gets reborn again Phoenix keeps on getting up from the challenges and keeps on going just like getting reborn again. That is why the author named the main character Phoenix because she is like the mythical bird the phoenix in many ways even the description of Phoenix gives symbolism of her being like the bird. Phoenix wears a red rag to tie her hair and running underneath her skin “a golden color” [welty1274]. The image of the bird is shown in Phoenix’s face “the two knobs of her cheeks were illuminated by a yellow burning under the dark” [Welty 1274]. Her golden tone skin represents the fiery golden red feathers the bird has.

Smoke Signals is about two Native American friends, Thomas Builds-A-Fire and Victor Joseph, from the Coeur D’Alene Indian Reservation in Plummer, Idaho who go on a journey to Phoenix, Arizona to retrieve Arnold Joseph’s ashes (Victor’s dad). Arnold was an alcoholic who left Victor and his mother as a child, but saved Thomas as a child. Victor and Thomas were raised on the reservation, yet they grew into two different personalities. The first part of the movie shows an authentic portrayal of life on the reservation through Victor and Thomas. The second part of the movie shows the journey taken by Victor and Thomas and their arrival to Phoenix, AZ. The last part of the movie shows Victor and Thomas’ journey back to Idaho.

Smoke Signals, written by Sherman Alexie, is a story that is based on his short story “This it was it Means to Say Phoenix, Arizona”. (citation) It takes place on the Couer d’Alene Indian Reservation in Idaho (citation). The story focuses on two main characters, Victor and Thomas, and it is based on an event that took place way back in the day, a house fire. No one really knows anything about it, so some other events take place, which leads Victor and Thomas to finding out some details that will eventually unfold things from their past. While watching the movie Smoke Signals after reading the short story, I noticed that it allows us to have a better understanding of what the author is trying to portray about the characters’ pasts. Through the use of flashbacks and storytelling, we are able to unfold some of the mysteries that the short story may have confused us about and we can see some of the major differences that occurred throughout the movie and the short story.

The little hurricanes that came brought destruction in many ways, shapes and forms. Victor grew up with alcoholic parents and family. He had a furious love for them even when they could not return the love back. He could remember the good times, they were quickly brought low when the recollection took a turn for the worst. The hurricanes came and went, leaving him to pick up the pieces.

Bright orange light emits from a scolding fire. It tears through the house, making the dark July 4th night lighter. This same fire claimed the lives of Thomas’s parents and would have even claimed the life of Thomas, if Victor’s father had not been present. An intense scene like this can snatch a viewer’s attention with ease. The film, Smoke Signals, used this exact scene to great effect. The short story “This Is What It Means To Say Phoenix, Arizona” by Sherman Alexie tells a similar story with some major differences. Even though both the movie and book follow a similar plot, the movie is far superior due to the various additions and changes made by the film producers.

Danny is captivated by fire and always prefers an open, uncontrolled flame from a match. As opposed to a controlled flame from a lighter, much as he does not like being controlled in all aspects of his life, even his rehabilitation. “In any relationship, but especially with an adult, he had to be in control… He was very, very good at getting people to step over that invisible border. Lambs to slaughter.” Danny controls each affiliation that he is a part of especially those in which affect his life, such as Tom and his hospitalisation. Danny himself is a very uncontrollable character much as an open flame, as he prefers to be the person in control in each situation. With a match, he is the one in control of the uncontrollable material. He chooses whether it can be a harmless or dangerous situation, much as he does in his relationships. At the time of Danny’s arrival at Tom’s house, he was in a state of worry of being found by the media and questioned about the murder. When Danny sets a fire in Tom’s house whilst he is sleep walking, it is a demonstration of how similar he is to the flame. When he loses control of his own emotions, he also releases the flame to its own

“This is What it Means to Say Phoenix, Arizona”: The Road to a New Beginning

In “This Is What It Means to Say Phoenix, Arizona” Sherman Alexie included Jim Thorpe in his short story to emphasize Thorpe because Thorpe ran track and Sherman is trying to make a point in how fast Thomas and Victor was running. Jim Thorpe also known as James Francis Thorpe is from an Indian Territory known as the Sac and Fox. In the years Jim Thorpe was growing up, no one expected an indian to become something of themselves, but no one would have ever of thought that an indian can achieve in life. Since Thorpe was an indian he had to grow up in a totally different world than other races. Being in a different world didn’t stop Thorpe to become something and to achieve in life.

The phoenix is also described in many different mythologies. All believe that it’s a wonderful bird that has come of the sun. Reborn from their ashes the phoenix is a great bird with many powers. It is an important symbol of rebirth and immortality.

The alliteration creates a cacophonous atmosphere for the setting in which the fire takes place

By using sight as a sense, fire has risen in the middle of the story. Specifically, the meaning of fire itself, is something being burned, or is going to be burned. In the same way, fire also spreads drastically everywhere. As it states in the book, “He saw a red light before him, as when the felled trunks and branches of a

In middle school things got really bad for Phoenix. People started making fun of her she was always in tears. They called her a freak who didn’t belong anywhere. She started hating everybody which caused major storms. Then a man named Charles came and spoke to her family with a woman named Storm. She had the same gifted as Phoenix. Charles taught her how to control them.

”The fire, making the appearance of a vault, like the sail of a vessel filled by the wind,

The flames danced along the walls, consuming everything in their path. I could only scream in agony, helpless, as I was crushed by a burning remnant of my former home, watching in despair as my own parents were –