What You Pawn I Will Redeem

He feels he does not belong or fit in with anyone else, he is less than everybody. However, he starts writing to Martin Luther King Jr. about some of his peers like SJ and Dr. Dray, helping him realize that he does belong and that even though he will still get mistreated by certain individuals

As George R.R. Martin once stated, “Never forget what you are, for surely the world will not. Make it your strength. Then it can never be your weakness. Armour yourself in it, and it will never be used to hurt you” (“Quotes About Identity”, 2017). In the short stories, David Goes to the Reserve, and Compatriots, characters struggle with their sense of identity. Some know who they are, but lack the knowledge of who they want to be; while others do not perceive any identity, but know they can be so much more. To find their true selves, the characters have to confront and overcome the obstacles that hindered them in the past.

Tim O’Brien writes in his story, What You Pawn I Will Redeem about a homeless Salish Indian named Jackson Jackson. O’Brien takes readers on Jackson’s journey to acquire enough money to purchase back his grandmothers stolen powwow regalia. Throughout the story, Jackson’s relationships with other charters ultimately define his own character. The major character flaw of Jackson is his kindness, which ultimately becomes his greatest asset.

Despite being a very diverse literature genre in terms of influence and inspiration, North American literature encompasses many works that share some very common thematic elements. Though there are several themes shared, one in particular can be found in most any work – the importance of identity. Particularly in some selected pieces yet to be named, identity is a very important element, not only because it is a necessity for a main character in any work of literature, but because these works express ideas about identity as being very individualistic – as opposed to being a mere result of cultural surroundings. Zora Neal Hurtson’s Their

An individual's identity is how one perceives and differentiates themselves from others in their society. Outside factors such as family, friends, and society can have a major impact on how one views themselves. However, identity ultimately comes down to one’s own personal beliefs. In Jon Krakauer's book Into the Wild, Krakauer investigates the life and death of Chris McCandless, a young man whose actions allow him to pursue a unique identity, but also lead to his untimely demise. In Stephen King’s short story “Survivor Type”, King envisions the affects one’s morals and values can have in grave situations, especially concerning the identity of an individual.

Discovering our own identity does not come from being in isolation, but when we experience new things and meet new people. Our identity is bound up with our surroundings. Bethia, in Caleb’s Crossing, longed to discover her identity and make sense of the life she lived. She engages in new experiences and is brought out of her comfort zone by a local Indian boy, Caleb. She steps out of the isolation of her small village and ventures into what she hopes will help her to understand herself. Saidiya Hartman, in Lose Your Mother, though similar to Bethia in the way that she is trying to figure out who she is, but different in the way that she wants to discover that through slavery and her ties to slavery. Hartman travels great distances trying to

Finding out who you are, through hardships and ease, is the main focus of this book. John Demos wanted to write a story, and in this story the main focus is figuring out how to adapt to your surroundings and the circumstances that you have cannot control to best survive. With this he weaved a tale about a colonial town that was not prepared for what happens to it, and its residents.

Alexie, like my mom, came from a community that was frequently looked down on, but he did not let that stop him from thriving, he says “If I had been anything but an Indian boy living on the reservation, I might have been called a prodigy.” This reminds me of my mom's struggles as a black female growing up in America. She was constantly looked down upon, mistreated, undervalued, and marginalized by other communities because of learned bias that shaped their individuality learned in their communities. But like Alexie, she did not let this get to her, instead she clung to the lessons learned in communities to which she belonged, degraded by others labeled as a nuisance, and found strength, chose to serve, and thrived in her adversity. Alexies' main community, his family, held a huge role in his individuality.

Alcoholism seems to be a common obstacle in everyone’s lives. Whether one is trying to overcome a problem or the possibility of knowing someone who is, which also seems to be a common characteristic for the main characters in each of the stories “What You Pawn I Will Redeem” by Sherman Alexie and “The Swimmer” by John Cheever. These two stories share motifs, symbols and themes. The most obvious contrasts are as follows; the point of view for each of these stories is different. In Alexies’ story, it is told in the first person view, for a reason too.

One of the most important literary elements in every story is the use of setting. The time and place of a story plays a key role in the readers understanding of the piece. In some stories though, the setting is more important than in others. In the story, “The Appropriation of Cultures,” by Percival Everett the story would have a much different effect if the setting changed. In Sherman Alexie’s story, “What You Pawn I Will Redeem,” the setting could change in multiple ways and we would still be reading a great story.

Personal identity is a way one sees themselves and is related to their image and self esteem. It guides them through their life as to what they want to do and get out of life. It is also an indication of a person 's individualism and self-satisfaction. It is an important aspect of a person 's life. Every person identifies themselves to certain groups, organizations, culture, ethnicity, characters, goals or to things. The story "What You Pawn I Will Redeem" by Sherman Alexie describes a homeless Indian man Jackson from Spokane, Washington who wants to connect with his past and ancestral roots. One day he sees his grandmother 's regalia in a pawnshop, recognizes it, makes a bond with it; and tries his best to get the regalia back. The story is about this character Jackson; and the events that happen to him for twenty-four hour period. The main themes of the story revolve around generosity, friendship, belief, self-identity, culture, and plight of a homeless. The other story "Sonny 's Blues" by James Baldwin is about jazz musician from Harlem, NY who struggles through his addiction to drugs and music and his relationship with his older brother, the narrator of the story. The story revolves around home, family, the responsibility of an elder brother to his younger brother, attachment to music, and reconciliation. Among these themes, this paper is going to analyze how personal identity is so important for a these main characters, and how they achieve them in their own methods.

Jackson becomes one of the many Indian homeless men in Seattle and as he is walking with his friends, he comes upon the front of a pawnshop. In the pawnshop he recognizes an important antique that belonged to his passed away grandmother. The owner will sell it to him for 999 dollars, but he only has five dollars between him and his three friends. Jackson in the short story “What You Pawn I Will Redeem” by Sherman Alexis, understands that his autonomy of being homeless, prevents him from buying an important object from his past. The author states in the story “I wonder whether I could bring my grandmother back to life if I brought back her regalia” (Alexie 14).

Sherman Alexie’s "What you Pawn, I Will Redeem" appears on the surface to be a simply written story of a homeless, alcoholic Indian in Seattle who is trying to earn enough money to reclaim his grandmothers Pow Wow regalia from a local pawn shop. But upon looking closely, there are many symbolic passages that my lead a person to much deeper conclusions. Throughout the story there are many clues that hint at the fact that this quest may not have been real, but a more "spiritual" experience for him. It could be argued that Jackson Jackson was on a modern day vision quest.

Almost all teens experience some sort of an identity crisis. They struggle with finding a clearer sense of themselves. Arnold Spirit Jr., a 14-year-old reservation Indian, faces an identity crisis when he leaves his reservation to go to school in Reardan, a town inhibited by white people. To begin, Arnold moves between different settings, and when he does, there is a change in his identity. Moreover, there is a change in his character as he moves between cities. Finally, Arnold experiences an identity crisis as well as conflicts with his community. In The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie, the author uses literary elements to emphasize that one’s racial and ethnic identity changes depending on the social surrounding.

An identity defines a person’s life on who they are. We do not get to choose our identity; our identity chooses us. Whether one doesn’t get to choose their identity, it is important to be appreciative of ones identity. In the novel The Human Stain by Phillip Roth, identity is displayed through Coleman Silk actions. Coleman Silk a man that made decisions in his life such as making a racial comment while teaching, lying about his race, and having an affair. In all, he was trying to find a new identity in search for power. In results of his life decisions, Coleman Silk lost his original identity that would dawn on him forever.