Sherman Alexie Because My Father

The literary work of Sherman Alexie “carries the weight of five centuries of colonization, retelling the American Indian struggle to survive, painting a clear, compelling, and often painful portrait of modern Indian life” (Cline 197). Alexie exactly did that on his book The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven, particularly the short story Because My Father Always Said He Was the Only Indian Who Saw Jimi Hendrix Play “The Star-Spangled Banner” at Woodstock. He implied his view of life and values as American Indian through themes of war, reservation relationships and the power of music are particularly represented in his short story. The story describes both physical and cultural wars as Victor narrates actual wars, such as Vietnam. Victor’s …show more content…
By modeling alcoholism as a way of life, Victor’s father is increasing the chance that Victor will become one of many Native Indians who learn this addictive behavior from their parents (DeNuccio 88). Victor’s parents were heavy drinkers and they would get drunk and leave parties suddenly to go home and make love. Alcohol and sex were the center of his parents’ marriage, which is destructive and unstable. Although their love was passionate, unpredictable, and selfish, his parents still divorced. Victor’s father ‘s dependence to music, alcohol, and other American influences eventually separates him from his wife and son. The divorce of his parents led victor to compare modern Native Indian marriages on reservations to traditional Native Indian marriages where a hundred years ago, an Indian marriage was without difficulty shattered. They would just pack up all their possessions and leave the reservation (Galens 22). However, due to assimilation, Native Indians incline to focus on cultural and physical survival and as a result of deteriorating marriage of modern Native Indian, it’s more damaging and painful than