Sherman Alexies Life and Works: A Reflection of Life of American Indians - Research Paper Example

English 23 April Sherman Alexie’s Life and Works: A Reflection of Life of American Indians A acts as a mediator between the reader and text hence, “the function of a writer is no longer that of a creator or an originator but that of human medium through whom experiences of the mass audience are recorded and then transmitted back to them” (Fairbank and Feuerwerker 485). Similarly in the works of Sherman Alexie it is observed that he also provides the readers with an insight of the lives of American Indians and their hardships through the themes incorporated in his works and the characterization of his characters. His works not only have thematic similarities or the similarities of same attributes in his characters but readers also see a reflection of Alexie’s life in his works as well. Sherman Alexie was born on 7 October 1966 in Spokane, Washington. He grew up on the Spokane Indian Reservation in Wellpinit. He was a born as a hydrocephalic i.e. he had water on his brain which causes damage to the brain in varying degrees. In Alexie’s case he suffered from seizures and uncontrollable bed-wetting when he was young but nothing as severe as mental retardation. His father was “a randomly employed, blue-collar alcoholic and war orphan” (Jaggi) and he himself went through a phase of alcohol abuse in his early twenties which he claims to be “partly out of terror at leaving the rez” (Jaggi). However he gave up this habit by the time he turned twenty three. As an artist he excels at many things such as he is a prolific writer, a poet, a film maker and occasionally a comedian (Drew 4-6). Although the thematic concerns that the writer incorporate in his works are sensitive as well as complex yet it is observed that he utilizes humor as a tool to alleviate tension. Some of the major themes he deals with in his poetry as well as fiction prose and novels include racism, alcoholism and poverty. However humor plays an integral part in his works. Quirk also believes that he uses humor as, “a means of cultural survival for American-Indian survival in the face of the larger American culture stereotypes of American Indians and their concomitant distillation of individual tribal characteristics into one pan-Indian consciousness” (Quirk). Alexie also says in poetry collection, Face, "comedy is simply a funny way of being serious” (Bernardin and Susan). In an interview he again stresses on the importance of humor by saying, “I was always the depressed guy in the basement. But I've borrowed their sense of humor and made it darker and more deadly - a weapon of self-defense. Being funny you win hearts quicker; people laughing are more apt to listen” (Jaggi). From his works it can be inferred that his works gives voice to the yearnings, frustrations, triumphs and losses of living and growing up on an Indian Reservation. Alexie makes use of humor in order to disrupt the tension that is created due to the sensitivity of the issues he deals with both in “What you Pawn I will Redeem” and “The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time-Indian” as the topics are critical and complex. However without giving offense to any of the readers he talks about the problems that are faced by American Indians in America. Moreover he also talks about their habits and life styles giving an impression as if he is trying to make the readers understand that both the black and the whites are at fault. His humor is more of a sarcastic commentary on the condition of Indians and Americans rather than using humor as a technique to make fun of the situation around him. Some of the issues that are dealt with in a humorous manner are homelessness, alcoholism, poverty and racism. In both the works of Alexie alcoholism is a commonly found habit in almost all the characters. Moreover because of this habit these characters suffer pain and loss. For example Arnold loses his grandmother and sister because of their alcohol habits same as the author who, “lost nine members of his extended family, mostly in alcohol-related deaths - including his elder sister, when he was 13, in a drunken trailer fire” (Jaggi). He also talks about death in a humorous way in the novel where Arnold says, “All of my white friend can count their deaths on one hand. I can count my fingers, toes, arms, legs, eyes, ears, nose, penis, butt cheeks, and nipples, and still not get close to my deaths” (Alexie 85) since the deaths he talks about are because of the habit of excessive drinking that runs in his society. While on the other hand Junior also in a way dies because of his unkempt state and alcohol habits. In “what you pawn I will redeem” it is observed that when Officer Williams picks Jackson from the railroad he says, “You Indians. How the hell do you laugh so much? I just picked your ass off the railroad tracks, and you’re making jokes” (Alexie 7). In reply to Jackson’s comment, “No man, that place is awful. It’s full of drunk Indians” and later he says “the two funniest tribes I’ve ever been around are Indians and Jews, so I guess that says something about the inherent humor of genocide” (Alexie 7). This conversation highlights Alexie’s attempt at subtly criticizing the situation of alcoholic habits of his fellow Indians. Over all this common pattern can be perceived as the character’s attempt at trying to find an escape from the suffering and misery of life. Drew also believes that the characters, “involved with crime, alcohol or drugs they struggle to survive the constant battering of their minds, bodies and spirits by white American society and by their own self-hatred and sense of powerlessness” (6). The constant sexual references that are made in the novel can also be interpreted as a part of Alexie’s sense of humor because the novel fundamentally targets the young adults and in their circles it is ‘cool’ to crack jokes about sex. Hence this adds a flavor of reality to the novel projecting a very basic day to day living style of a teenager may it be Indian or American. Moreover these references are also full of humor for example it is mentioned in the text, “Greif- When you feel so hopeless and stupid that you think nothing will ever be right again, and your macaroni and cheese tasted like sawdust, and you can’t even jerk off because it seems like too much trouble (). In Alexie’s works poverty and alcoholism are interlinked with one another because in the case of every character it is poverty that leads to alcoholism and ultimately to death or decay. As it is also observed that Arnold also says, It sucks to be poor, and it sucks to feel that you somehow deserve to be poor. You start believing that you're poor because you're stupid and ugly. And then you start believing that you're stupid and ugly because you're Indian. And because you're Indian you start believing you're destined to be poor. It's an ugly circle and there's nothing you can do about it (43). These lines not only shows the inner turmoil of the protagonist but also gives an insight about human behavior i.e. poverty and misery in life leads to self-deprecation and ultimately to degeneration and death. A similar behavior pattern is also observed in Jackson’s friend Junior who, “died of exposure in an alley behind the Hilton Hotel” (Alexie 5). Although the overall impact of Alexie’s descriptions of the life style of the poverty stricken Indians is done in a sarcastic manner yet the situations that he creates become humorous where his depiction of the poverty stricken conditions of Indians does not appear to be a cruel judgment or criticism of their situation. In “What you Pawn, I will Redeem” Alexie also mocks at the homelessness of his fellow Indians yet his criticism is highly subtle and because of the humorous undertones of the story it does not seem to be harsh. Besides the writer deals with this issue in a very matter of fact tone as if it is a norm for Indians to become homeless in a minute however he wants the world to see the injustices and the hardships that are faced by his fellow Indians. It is also stated in the story, ““One day you have a home and the next you don’t” (Alexie 1). An in-depth analysis of Alexie’s works shows that he presents an unbiased perspective of the condition, behavior and treatment of the Indians by the whites and vice versa. As observed in the case of Jackson in “What you Pawn, I will Redeem” that at more than one place he admires the behavior of the whites. As he says about Officer Williams that, “he was a good cop” (Alexie). Similarly, the portrayal of the white pawn-shop owner is again that of a good and reasonable man of principles who gives Jackson the regalia because he believes that Jackson deserves it since he had worked hard to earn those five dollars. As it is also apparent form their conversation in the text. Moreover the mocking tone of the writer also gives an insight of the manner in which the minds of the Indians work for example Jackson says, “Indians have to work hard to keep secrets from hungry white folks”. This comment not only explicates the theme of the story but also it can be perceived as a remark about the life of an Indian who has to struggle in order to survive as well as to retain his identity and try to avoid being colonized by the whites and lose hi Indian heritage. On contrary the novel appears to be a tale of an inner struggle of the protagonist regarding his true identity as his loyalties are divided between his former life at the reservation and life in Seattle. This division can also be inferred from the title of the novel i.e. “Part-Time Indian”, it again stresses on Arnold’s confusion regarding him. Then again Mr. P also talks about the racism as he says, “…We were supposed to make you give up being Indian. Your songs and stories and language and dancing. Everything. We weren't trying to kill Indian people. We were trying to kill Indian culture” (58) which proves the biased behavior that was practiced in schools which led to further disrupt in the society because of the divisions that were taught at school. However regardless of the sensitivity of the topic Alexie does not shirk away from creating situations which present the biases of the American society although he reiterates them in a humorous manner to diffuse the tension. As at one point when Arnold is faced by the white students and he realizes that a beating might result he says, I wasn’t scared of fist fighting with those boys. I’d been in plenty of fights. And I wasn’t scared of losing fights with them, either. I’d lost most every fight I’d been in. I was afraid those monsters were going to kill me. And I don’t mean “kill” as in “metaphor.” I mean “kill” as in “beat me to death (). Then again he also draws comparison between his society and the Indian life style and the white society with the help of humor. As Arnold says on his first day at the new school that, “I had no idea that Junior was a weird name. It’s a common name on my rez, on any rez. You walk into any trading post on any rez in the United States and shout, “Hey, Junior!” and seventeen guys will turn around” (). The identity crises faced by Arnold not only depict the dichotomy between in his true self and the adapted self but also highlights an emotional turmoil for many of American Indians. However with the aid of humor neither the projection of this identity crisis appear to be as a form of crime nor does it give an impression to the readers as a degradation of Indians or as if this confusion makes them an oddity or an outcast, it is just natural nothing to be ashamed of. As it is mentioned in the novel, ““My name is Junior,” I said. “And my name is Arnold. It’s Junior and Arnold. I’m both.” I felt like two different people inside of one body. No, I felt like a magician slicing myself in half, with Junior living on the north side of the Spokane River and Arnold living on the south” (Alexie 7). The matter of fact tone of this blabbering further stresses the writer’s point of view that talking about differences amongst ones social background as well as this blurring of boundaries about identity is common. It is a cliche that a writer leaves a part of himself in his every piece of writing which enlightens the readers about the writer and his inspiration. A similar situation is observed in the case of Sherman Alexie’s art of characterization because both his novel and short story not only have similarities on a thematic level but the character also share a similar origin and family history. Moreover, these similarities are further linked to the autobiographical strains that are found in his works. A major similarity between the author and the two characters is their origin i.e. all three of them belong to the Spokane tribe. Both the heroes are poverty stricken and in their own way they struggle to achieve something which is important to them. The tragedies the two protagonists suffer also have the same context. For example, Jackson’s grandmother was attacked by thieves while returning from Powwow while Arnold’s grandmother was killed by Gerald when she was returning from the Powwow as well. Another comparison can be drawn between the murder of Jackson’s grandfather and Eugene i.e. both were killed in a fight or a tussle when the attacking parties were drunk and the murder which was committed by mistake, leaves behind the culprits with a burden of lifelong guilt and remorse. Maya Jaggi’s says, “Although the book “The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian”) began as part of a family memoir, he fictionalized his childhood ‘because I didn't think anybody would believe it ... I didn't want to write a triumphant, American dream book that mythologized me’”. However the characterization of Arnold is almost very similar to Alexie’s life. For example, both the protagonist and the author suffered from hydrocephaly and were treated at the age of six months. As a result of this extra fluid they suffered from seizures as Alexie tries to explain them by saying, “The lights would pop, then I'd rise out of my body and be able to fly off anywhere I wanted” (Jaggi). Both the author and the protagonist left the reservation for a better future and studied at Reardan High School. Hence, it is apparent that Alexie was inspired by his life and personality to create a fictional character so that with the twist of fiction he could reiterate the non-fictive story of his life. Since “What you Pawn I will Redeem” is a short story and the story is a straight forward tale about a single day of Jackson’s life so many details are not stated in the story. As it is apparent from the protagonist’s behavior as well where he says “…but I am not going tell you about my reason for being homeless because it is my secret story…” it appears as if neither the author nor the protagonist is willing to divulge a lot of details or information to the readers. Therefore, a few similarities that can be drawn between the author and the hero include the fact that the grandmothers of both the writer and the protagonist were great storytellers. The writer refers to the place Okinawa where his, “paternal grandfather had died in Okinawa during the second world war” (Jaggi) while Jackson’s grandmother lost her brother in Okinawa and the soldier patient had also been stationed in Okinawa prior to his tragic injury in the war. Alexie’s short story and the novel provide the readers with a very interesting depiction of Indians, their life styles and their problems. He does not present them as victims or victimizers but as individuals striving for a better future or else trying to find escape from the problems they face in their lives. He is not critical or judgmental in his reiteration of their condition but simply acts as a mediator between the readers and the characters. Although his works are laden with autobiographical strains which further explains writer’s desire to explicate the circumstances of the Indians i.e. so that the misconception regarding Indians can be alleviated. The mocking or the humorous writing style of Alexie helps is pointing out the discrimination of the society as well as the self-inflicted problems and troubles of the Indians. As Witalec, Chapmen and Giroux also state, “Sherman Alexie has been lauded for writings that evoke sadness and indignation but leaves the reader with a sense of respect and compassion for characters who are seemingly in hopeless situations” (119). Outline 1. Introduction 1.1. Biography 1.2. Works and Style of Writing 2. Thematic Concerns 2.1. Alcoholism 2.2. Poverty 2.3. Racism 3. Art of Characterization 3.1. Jackson and Arnold 3.2. Arnold and Sherman Alexie 3.3. Jackson and Sherman Alexie 4. Conclusion Works Cited Alexie, Sherman. The New Yorker.21 April 2003. Web. 24 April 2012. Alexie Sherman. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. New York: Little Brown, And Company Books for Yong Readers, 2012. Print. Bernardin, and Susan. Ebscohost. University of Oklahoma, 1 July 2010. Web. 24 April’2012. Drew, Bernard A. 1oo More Adult Yong Adult Authors: Biographical Sketches and Biographies. Greenwood: Greenwood Publishing Inc., 2002. Print. Fairbank, John King, and Albert Feuerwerker. The Cambridge History of China: Republican China. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1986. Print. Jaggi, Maya. The Guardian. Guardian News and Media Limited, 3 May 2008. Web. 24 April’2012. Quirk, Sarah A. auth2.ulib.iupui.edu. Indiana University, 2003. Web. 24 April 2012 Witalec, Janet, Jeffery Chapman, and Christopher Giroux. Native North American Literature. Michigan: University of Michigan Press, 1994. Print. Read More