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This Is What It Means To Say Phoenix Arizona Analysis

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In Sherman Alexie’s short story, “This Is What It Means to Say Phoenix, Arizona” we follow Victor and Thomas along to their journey of change and revelation. Shortly after being laid off his job, Victor gets the fatal news that his father, has died. Since Victor had been abandoned by his father at a young age his character is negative, frustrated, angry, and confused. Having found out both things within the same week made his outlook on life very pessimistic. Thomas, on the other hand, is the storyteller on the reservation that nobody wants to listen to. He is lonely, positive, but has lived a sad life. After their journey together, Victor finds out more about his dad's lifestyle and personality and builds a bond with Thomas that would have never happened without the journey to Arizona. He goes from being confused and angry, to happy and at peace with himself and his father. Thomas also experiences the same emotions by the end of the journey. While they “technically” are not friends towards the end of the story, they will be forever bonded by this journey and he helped his friendship with Victor get a little deeper. Thanks to Thomas, Victor changes his perception of his dad and while doing so, helped himself get close to someone from back at home. Author Sherman Alexie uses the journey to Arizona to reveal and demonstrate change and the protagonist’s lifestyle. While Victor lives a torn and confused life because of his father’s absence, his outlook on his father changes
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