“When I write about the destructive effects of alcohol on Indians, I am not writing out of a literary stance or a colonized mind’s need to reinforce stereotypes. I am writing autobiography,” Sherman Alexie. In the book “Lone Ranger And Tanto Fist Fight in Heaven,” Sherman Alexie blends real life experience with fiction in order to address the struggles of the Spokane people. He addresses how historical trauma continues to negatively impact his tribe. In order to describe these struggles Alexie focuses on a young man named Victor, who represents Alexie. Sherman Alexie describes how alcohol can damage families, through examining absent parents, aggressive uncles, and the stress of overcoming alcoholism by stepping out of tradition so that the family may benefit .
One of the many different ways alcohol has affected Victor's family is his parents drinking too much, and as a result not being there for victor when he needs them. When Victor was a younger, he was at a holiday party, and
During a Holiday party, that his parents hosted at their own house, Victor couldn't find his parents anywhere, and he started getting worried, and even started to cry as he tried to find his parents. When he finally finds them, they are passed out drunk on their bed. ‘“Where are they?” He asked Aunt Nezzy, “who” she asked “my mom and dad”’. (P. 9) Victor feels scared and confused as he tries to find his parents that are passed out drunk. “Victor thought the alcohol seeping through their skin,
Most of Alexie’s writing reflects life on the reservations today. The poverty, oppression, commodity food, and alcoholism are the main themes in his stories. The title story of his collection The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fist Fight in Heaven, however, deals with the life of an Indian man who has left the reservation to live in Seattle and some of the obstacles he faces in the white world. We never know the main character’s name, probably because he feels like a nameless nobody in this strange world. He is alienated and told that he doesn’t belong even
“Alcohol addiction stunts the spiritual, emotional and mental growth of a person”~Anonymous. Sherman Alexie’s novel, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian, is a book based off the author’s teenage life. The novel is about a poor 14 year old named Junior who faced numerous challenges in his life. Junior has experienced bullying, he was called a traitor for following his dreams, got in a huge fight with his best friend and lost three very important people in his life because of alcohol. Fortunately in the end, Junior got through the pain and lived on but he learned many lessons. One of the lessons Junior learned was that the fall into addiction, in this situation alcohol, leads to a great deal of misery for the individual and those
Scott Russell Sanders’ “Under the Influence” is about a family growing up with alcoholism, mental and physical abuse. When Sanders was very young, he didn’t recognize that his father was an alcoholic, but as he grew older, he saw the bloodshot eyes, hiding alcohol, the deceptions, and the dual personalities of an alcoholic. “My father drank. He drank as a gut-punched boxer gasps for breath, as a starving dog gobbles food—compulsively, secretly, in pain and trembling.” (215). Sanders story starts at the end, where his father dies from alcoholism. The turmoil and fear this family suffered because of their father’s alcoholism, is a story a lot of families are familiar with.
21. How does Victor look to others, feel about himself, and behave toward his family when he arrives
In Sherman Alexie’s novel The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven shows the struggles of daily Native American life, which is shown through the point of view of male character. All though out the book the following three questions appear: ‘What does it mean to live as an Indian in this time? What does it mean to be an Indian man? and What does it mean to live on an Indian reservation?’ Alexie uses literary devices such as point of view, imagery, characterization to make his point that the conflict of being an Indian in the U.S. in these short stories using the following short stories “An Indian Education” and “Amusement”. “An Indian Education” uses both imagery and characterization to show us what the narrator is
In the story, “The Fighter” by Walter Dean Myers, the main conflict of the story is that Billy, the main character, needs to earn more money for him and his family in order for them to live a nice life. Billy is running low on money, so he needs to do boxing which is the only way he earns money, but his wife does not agree with him because she doesn’t want him to get hurt. Therefore, he is torn between either upsetting his wife to earn money or living in poverty until he could get the right education to get a good job. In the beginning of the story it says Billy is going out, though it doesn’t say where, it is to somewhere his wife does not want him to go. I know this because on page 27 it states,“Billy Giles told his wife that he was just
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
The author is describing one of these difficulties they both endured during their childhood. Victor himself went through personal troubles like his dad leaving his mom and having to die in Phoenix Arizona. As for Thomas, his mom died giving birth to him and his dad during World War 2. They both have different obstacles, but both have a similar connection throughout the story.
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.
Alcohol has always been one of the most profitable industries in the business world. More than $400 billion worth of alcohol purchased in the US alone in 2013 according to an economic website. Alcohol is a common figure where it can be easily spot in every household to grand restaurants, however, it is a huge factor contributed to the death rate each year. It has ruined an innumerable number of people lives due to excessive drinking or affect by an alcoholic person. In his book, “The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian”, Sherman Alexie emphasizes how significance alcohol can affect a teenager life, where Junior, the main protagonist has lost 3 family members because of alcohol. He shows that alcoholic should not be taken as a
Throughout the entire book, it becomes obvious that family is important to both Victor and the Monster. Victor greatly values his family and
Although Victor’s family was one of the most distinguished of the republic of Geneva and his parents were possessed by the “very spirit of kindness / And indulgence,” (Shelley 39) his days were not filled with happiness. His troubled past started the day Elizabeth caught scarlet fever, delaying his departure for Ingolstadt. Although Victor’s mother, Caroline, was able to cure her, she died in her place. The destruction of a dear bond by an irreparable evil surely would have caused anyone to suffer, but as time came, Caroline’s death became “rather an / Indulgence than a necessity” (Shelley 45) to Victor; it was nothing more than something that delayed his departure for Ingolstadt. Because Victor is in a situation where he no longer has control, his psyche must carry the burden
Alcoholism is an issue in many peoples lives. But for Native Americans it has become a very common issues effecting many people. Native Americans also affect more than health, issues like stereotyping and control come into play. Two authors decided to include the effects of alcohol in their works. By showing the affects of alcohol in Native Americans, people will be able to see the difficulties of the disease and try to overcome some of the problems.
Luckily, Thomas and Victor were okay; however, Arnold’s problem with alcohol does not stop with this horrible mistake. For years he continued to drink and abuse his wife and son, Victor. When Arnold’s wife could not take it anymore, Arnold left the family and moved far away, missing most of his son’s life. My family has also had this problem. I have never been a victim of child abuse, but my father’s abuse of alcohol has impacted me in many ways. When I was about seven, I was told that my dad was leaving because of his alcoholism. I did not understand at the time the significance of my parents getting a divorce, but having lived ten years without my father, I feel I can relate to Victor in many ways. My dad has missed so many important events in my life, such as making the cheerleading squad, my first prom, and even the day I got my license. After seeing this movie I realized that even if my dad could recover from alcoholism, it could never make up for all the years we lost together. Lives are ruined by this terrible addiction everyday; not only the alcoholic’s life, but also the lives of those who love them.
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.