A Comparison Of If I Ever Get Out Of Here And Smoke Signals

The narrator has strong romantic feelings for Katherine when he says “Becoming embarrassed at my own emotions for her on her birthday made me feel foolish for wanting so badly something I couldn’t have. Thomas wanted to obtain Katherine but she had a boyfriend for that reason he can’t and was under the impression

The character Thomas from “ This Is What It Means To Say Phoenix, Arizona.” is keeping his word by watching over Victor when he most needs it. Thomas is a guy no one really likes and talk to because he is always telling random stories, people see him as a crazy person. In reality Thomas is very humble, because after Victor beating him up for no reason one day, Thomas still decided to help Victor when he was most in need of it.

Thomas meets Brenda, who becomes very forward when he first meets her. They go downstairs and eat, when the roof collapses, separating Thomas and Brenda from the

Alcoholism is a big topic in both of the Indians life. For example in the book Junior’s sister passed away from being drunk and dying in a house fire. The same type of thing happens in the movie. Victor’s dad was drunk and caused a house fire that ended up killing some of his family members. Some differences in the book

The story indicates from the beginning that"Nobody talked to Thomas anymore because he told the same damn stories over and over again, " (Alexie 280). The last vision the audience knows is to when he is with Victor's father. Thomas goes with Victor on his journey in the hope that by completing his previous vision job he can experience new visions. On achieving to help Victor on his journey Thomas, "… heard a new story come to him in the silence afterward," (Alexie 286). Completing Thomas's last vision gave him his new vision because his previous visions. Thomas resentment towards Victor for what he had done but helped him because of the promise to Victor's

Lewis has his mom and uncle, Alburt, to watch over him. George has both of his parents left. Victor

In the movie Smoke Signals, there are two main characters which are Victor, Thomas and. Victor’s father. and Thomas are both young teenagers going through high school. Thomas is more on the odd side of things, for example, the way he speaks, dresses and communicates with other people. Victor looks like your regular teenager. Victor is tall with long black hair and has a bit of an attitude. Victor’s father is a tall middle-aged man. He plays a fatherly figure in both Victors and Thomas lives. Both Victor and Thomas fit well into the movie. The roles they play in the movie are powerful as well as supportive. Throughout the movie, they support each other along the journey.

The novel If I Ever Get Out of Here and the movie Smoke Signals have drastically different relationships between the two main characters. In the novel, the two main characters are Lewis and George. Lewis is a native of the Tuscarora tribe and his friend George is from a white military family. In the movie, the relationship we see is between Victor and Thomas. They are both from the same Indian tribe.

Divergent Messages There are many contrasts found in the themes between the film Smoke Signals and the novel If I Ever Get out of Here by Eric Gansworth. The novel’s theme is poverty, while the film shows alcoholism as its theme. In the novel, the main character Lewis shows that he is insecure about where he lives. When Lewis goes to school, he meets a boy named George. Lewis and George become close friends, and the two boys want to hang out.

Thomas character is being a HERO and a VERY INTELLIGENT PERSON. He was a really good doctor for THOUSANDS of BABY’S because he was the one that saved them all. At the beginning of the story

Trust, a confidence that can take years to build, and yet be shattered in seconds. The film Smoke Signals, a screenplay written by Sherman Alexie in 1998, brilliantly exemplifies the importance of trust. Victor Joseph, one of the protagonists of the film, struggled to build trust with his Father after his father abandon him in a burning building while saving Thomas, another boy who lives on the Coeur d'Alene Reservation. Thomas accompanies Victor on his quest to collect his Father’s ashes, despite their many differences. Victor’s reluctance to allow Thomas to join him, along with his uncertainty for Thomas test Victor’s ability to trust those around him.

In Amanda J. Cobb’s article titled “This is What It Means to Say Smoke Signals,” the author elucidates the significance of this film by showcasing the uniqueness of its story, creators, and contemporary representation of Native Americans in Hollywood film. Cobb brings to light the idea that this film was not only the first film to be written and directed by Native artists, but that it was the first to exercise the idea of self-definition and cultural sovereignty (207). The paper goes on to compare Smoke Signals to other films such as Powwow Highway (1989) as well as how its story either breaks old stereotypes or reinforces others in an uncommonly humorous and relaxing tone. Alongside these topics, Cobb’s piece also touches on critical questions

Thomas on the other hand was ok with knowing Victor would not talk to him again after their trip to Phoenix. “I know you ain’t going to treat me any better than you did before. I know your friends would give you too much shit about it.” (Alexie P. 518) He asked of Victor one favor only, he said, “Just one time when I’m telling a story somewhere, why don’t you stop and listen? Just once!” (Alexie P. 519)

seems to appreciate all the things Thomas has done for him it is not easy to accept him as a friend.

Thomas approaches Victor and offers his condolences. He tells Victor that he has money to lend him so he can make it to Phoenix. The only condition is that Victor must take Thomas with him. Victor tells Thomas that he can't accept his money and that they aren't even friends. Thomas replies “I didn't say we were friends. I said you had to take me with you.” (249). Victor says he'll think about it and goes home. When he arrives home, he is flooded with memories. After heavy consideration, Victor knows the only way he'll be able to claim his father's remains is to borrow the money from Thomas. He agrees to take Thomas along for the trip and the two men catch a plane to Phoenix, Arizona.