This Is What It Means To Say Phoenix Arizona Essay

Victor, a character from “This Is What It Means To Say Phoenix, Arizona”, has to travel back home to pick up his father's ashes. Victor had lost his job and has no money to go across the country. Later in the story Victor sees Thomas Builds-the-Fire who offers to help him. Thomas Builds-the-Fire was Victor's childhood best friend. It is not only Victor's father's ashes, but also the ashes of Victor's own life, which Victor seems ready to grasp by the end of the story. Throughout the story, Victor will come to realize that there is more meaning to life.This story embodies a journey that takes place on the plane, the stop at Victor’s father’s home, and the road trip back to the reservation.

Victor, built a hatred for his father because he left him and his mother broken. Arnold was portrayed as a stereotypical drunk, dead-beat dad that left his family to fend for themselves. Throughout the movie there are many flashbacks that show a lot of foreshadowing leading to Arnold’s absence. In one of the flashbacks, Arnold is in the truck with Victor and says to him during a drunken rant “…one day I’ll make myself disappear.” However, there are a handful of precious memories that Victor held with his father. I believe that this is what led Victor on his journey to find the truth as to why his father left him and his mother. The moment that Victor finds out the truth about the house fire many years ago, his hatred begins to whither and he sees his father in a new yet complicated light. Learning the truth eventually frees him from his rage towards his father and irritation towards Thomas; he may feel as though Thomas is a victim of his father’s selfish actions. Towards the end of the film, there was a scene that Victor took his father’s ashes and shared them with

Victor's father and Elizabeth portray family values, showing love and support to each other, and to Victor. Even When Victor leaves and “abandons” them, they still welcome him back into the family, upon his return and thus, Victor feel abandoned by those he loves.

Victor's feelings toward his dad are a huge mess of anger and confusion. But as Thomas tells the story, Victor starts to see Arnold in a different light—flawed, definitely, but also courageous and human, which I like. It was a journey of understanding and acceptance for Victor, helping him come to terms with who he is and where he comes from” (Ryder

Victor thought that Thomas might be able to help him because “Victor felt a sudden need for tradition” (78). This quote means that after Victor’s fathers died he wanted to feel like he belongs to the tribal community and traditions. Thomas offers to lend Victor the money on the condition that he accompany Victor to Phoenix, Arizona.

Thomas told Victor of how close he was to Victor’s father and how

Thomas, voluntarily saves one of the Glader's who was injured coming back from the maze. Consequently, in the time he saved him, he fails at getting him back home.

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

The character Thomas from “This Is What It Means To say Phoenix, Arizona,” uses his stories, money, and his knowledge to try understand how his friend Victor feels about his father’s death. Thomas tries to help Victor though this emotional time in his life. Through the evidence in the text it shows that Thomas is a caring and kind person to help his friend Victor get to Phoenix, Arizona for his father’s death. Thomas agree to lend money to his friend Victor to get to Phoenix, Arizona to get what his father left him after his death. Thomas only want in return is to go with him to tell his stories and help Victor though his emotional time in his life.

In the short story, “This is What It Means to Say Phoenix, Arizona”, by Sherman Alexie, I looked at two characters: Thomas and Victor. Thomas Builds-the-Fire is a storyteller on a reservation who everyone ignores because they think he is crazy. Victor on the other hand is a guy who would not dare be seen talking to Thomas. Thomas knows that Victor is in need of help, but Victor will not admit it. I want to show how these two characters who are completely opposite of each other, come together during a time of need.

This Is What It Means To Say Phoenix, Arizona by Sherman Alexie is a complex story of friendship, loss, and regaining things which have been lost. This story was told by a third person omniscient account, with the protagonist often experiencing flashbacks. Alexie’s method of writing this story was effective in allowing the reader to connect with the characters. Understanding the characters allows the reader to identify their significance in the story. The title is compelling because it exemplifies the true meaning of the story.

At this point Victor is responsible for two deaths and must keep this all to himself. By suffering through the guilt and the illness it is clear that his decisions that were made in order to deepen his knowledge of the scientific world are becoming dangerous to himself and the people close to him.

His anger towards the priest affected his living style as he is filled with disdain and stubbornness. In page 203 big momma emphasized the importance to forgive "Forgiveness is magic." However, Victor's anger is directed at the weaker people. Victor pulled Thomas into a quick headlock. “Tell me,” Victor said and cut off Thomas’s air for a second." (Page 10) Victor feels the need to play the dominant role and show people who's the boss. On page 12 it says that Victor's "Wardrobe made him an angry man" This stresses the fact that Victors exterior look parallels with his characteristics. We get a sense of unsettling behaviour. However, Victor finds his sober way of forgetting his past through music. His love for music has increased throughout the book and we soon realize that Victor has a softer side. I think you left something behind in New York, said the guitar. Victor stepped inside the bathroom, shut the door behind him, and reached for it. Take it easy there, the guitar said. You can have me back. You can take me

Even though she said so many good things about his father and about things he was afraid of, Victor did not want to show any compassion for his father. It is like the story on Real Boys, Inside the World of Boys: Behind the Mask of Masculinity. Victor was hiding behind this mask so he would not show his emotions. However, after the accident, he began to think about his father. He understood that no one could be perfect and he finally saw that he really loved his father.

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.