This Is What It Means To Say Phoenix Arizona Summary

Thomas goes on to change his way of dressing, and even his hairstyle. The old Thomas wore his hair in two braids, and sported suits everyday. The new Thomas wears his hair unraveled so that is it appears to be long and flowing, like the typical “native american”. When they arrive back on the bus the two are bullied by two caucasian men who steal their seats. The two try and get back at the men by singing a song they casually made up in Native American style. When Thomas and Victor finally arrive in Arizona at Arnold’s trailer, they are greeted by his girlfriend. Once inside the home she presents them with Arnold’ s ashes. Victor becomes emotional and is ready to head back to the reservation. As he goes through his father’s belongings, something comes over Victor and he retaliates by cutting his hair. Victor and Thomas portray to be “American” in a sense. The two play sports, have typical family problems, and reference pop culture. However they also portray two indian stereotypes; the warrior and the shaman. Victor represents the warrior, and Thomas the shaman. Victor’s short temper and

Thomas seems to have a gift in his storytelling, they may seem like crazy stories he tells over and over but his stories may carry some kind of meaning. “We are all given one thing by which our lives are measured, one determination. Mine are the stories which can change or not change the world.” (Alexie P. 518) His stories about Victor’s father are why he went out of his way to help Victor. It took Victor a trip to Phoenix to see that Thomas was there for a reason, to help him because they were cousins.

Thomas is a nerd in his reservation, wearing oversize glasses and telling everyone stories do not wants to hear. Thomas bring a very interesting flavor to the story. He tells many stories to the people, but most people ignore him, because most of his stories are made up. He sees Victor as a brother. Each time something happen between Thomas and Victor like a fight or an argument, Thomas would go back to him and talk to

Shortly after losing his job with the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Victor is informed of his father's death. Although they haven't had

In Eudora Welty’s “A Worn Path,” the character Phoenix Jackson is introduced. Phoenix Jackson is an uneducated, African-American woman without any family besides her sick grandson. Phoenix is the hero of this story and fits the role well by delivering much-needed medicine to her grandson. Phoenix shows many distinct traits that reveal her to be a hero to her grandson. The heroic feats she accomplishes pave a path that leads to her satisfaction as well as protection of her most beloved asset, her grandson. Throughout the story, Phoenix’s humble, caring, and determined character is displayed through her actions.

The mythological story "A Worn Path” is of tales and figures, the most considerable, being the legend of the phoenix. There are numerous symbols and allusions brought about in the story relating to the legend of the phoenix. The phoenix is a bird that comes from Egyptian mythology. The best analogy of the phoenix is a magnificent bird. The phoenix has astonishing powers. It has the knack to materialize and vanish in the blink of an eye. The myth states the phoenix travels to the sun. The sun gives the phoenix it powers. The heat incinerates the bird. The bird is reborn from the ashes. From her name along with appearance to her action and the symbolism throughout the story, Phoenix Jackson is the manifestation of the phoenix (bird).

     By reading the book, the author showed me was that the only thing left for the remaining Native Americans is to drink, since everything they once had has disappeared. Most part of the book is about Indians having bad experiences in life and facing the loss of their tradition.

In the short story This Is What It Means to Say Phoenix, Arizona written by Alexie Sherman. Alexie wrote about these two Native Americans that live on the Spokane Indian Reservation. Victor had a tough childhood when his father left him around the age of seven and moved to Phoenix Arizona. Thomas’s parents died when he was just a baby and grew up with his grandmother, Thomas was a storyteller and got picked on a lot because of his story telling. Victor lost his job and he also found out that he lost his father due to a heart attack, Victor was told that his father had a savings account and if he wanted anything to go to Phoenix to go gather up his father’s belongings.

Throughout the whole movie, life on the reservation is shown through various stories and flashbacks. The portrayal of life on the reservation is not romanticized, nor is it criticized; life on the reservation is shown truthfully. There were problems then and there still are problems now with alcoholism, broken families, and a sense of abandonment. Alcoholism in communities, like the one portrayed in the film, causes a large ripple through everyone, their family and their tribe. It broke Victor and Thomas’ families, as Victor’s dad ran away due to actions he committed under intoxication and Thomas’ parents died in an accident that involved alcohol. Victor’s dad vanishing brought upon him a sense of abandonment that affected his overall outlook on life at a

“This Is What It Means To Say Phoenix, Arizona” discusses the physical and mental journey of Victor, a Native American man in the state of Washington, as he goes to Phoenix, Arizona to claim his father’s remains and his savings account. While on this journey, Victor learns about himself, his father, and his Indian culture with the help of his estranged friend, Thomas Builds-the–Fire. The author, Sherman Alexie, plays on the stereotypes of Native Americans through the characters of Victor and Thomas. While Thomas is portrayed as the more traditional and “good” Native American, Victor comes across as the “bad” Native American. Through the use of this binary relationship, Alexie is able to illustrate the transformation of these characters as

The story starts out by explaining how the main character “William” is a Spokane Indian. But, not just a typical Indian. He didn’t live on the reservation or have any ties to any Indian Casino, instead he was his own man. William had a demanding job that made him travel quite a lot. He was away from his family too much and even though he enjoyed his job, he despised the fact that he had to be away from his wife and children so much.

Sherman J. Alexie, is a short story written in the first person focusing on two Native American Men who grew up together on a Reservation for Native Americans but have been estranged from each other since they were teenagers. Victor who is the narrator of this story is a young man who lost faith in his culture and its traditions, while Thomas our second main character is a deeply rooted traditional storyteller. In the beginning of the story Victor, our Native American narrator learns the death of his father. Jobless and penniless, his only wish is to go to Phoenix, Arizona and bring back his father’s ashes and belongings to the reservation in Spokane. The death of Victor’s father leads him and Thomas to a journey filled with childhood

While he may think that drinking is a way to escape being Native American, in actuality, it just perpetuates the cycle of alcoholism on the reservation.

Another example of the ancient Native American spirit on the reservation was given early in the movie, just as Victor and Thomas are beginning their journey to Phoenix. We see the duo walking side by side down a dirt road, and soon a beat up "reservation car" pulls up beside them carrying two women. The reservation car is old and worn down, dust caking

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