Sherman Alexie's Flight Summary

Sherman Alexie’s novel Flight is narrated by Zits, a fifteen-year-old half-Indian, half-Irish boy who travels through time and the bodies of distinct characters after an attempt to shoot people at a bank in redemption to his late mother and runaway father. Alexie’s novel demonstrates the theme of identity, which is, according to Zack, the self-categorization of a person in connection with race, ethnicity, or gender. One can employ aspects of theoretical explanations from Thinking About Race by Naomi Zack to analyze chapter one of Flight. In her book, Zack discusses the concept of race and racial issues by making use of philosophical methods to many situations. Moreover, in chapter eight, she outlines and explains racial and ethnic identities, …show more content…
When he exaggerates about the ability to die of zits, he says that one can “die of shame” as an alternative because his “zit-shame is killing [him].” We are able to see how degrading and hurt he feels about his appearance. Zits then enlist other characteristics that he is ashamed of: being fifteen, tall, skinny, ugly, lonely and Indian. Zack notes how psychologists and psychiatrists work with therapeutic notions of identity that relate to emotional states and beliefs. She explains how one can obtain a strong identity, which is connected with self-esteem and self-love that are based on trusting, nurturing interactions. At this point in the narrative, I am able to acknowledge the fact that Zits was unable to experience the love and care needed to gain any self-love for himself. As a result, he feels a sense of insecurity and a rise of self-esteem issues.
Zits is described as half-Irish and half-Indian, but cannot identify as either because he has not experienced anything about the heritages or their traditions. Although, according to Zack, a person can make decisions on “how to accept and develop” their identity, Zits did not feel as if he belonged to any race, ethnicity, or nationality because of the lack of parenting in his life. Instead of having the opportunity to learn from his parents, Zits relied on television to teach …show more content…
Authentic solidarity or the loyalty one holds to their group, isn’t something I could see Zits standing by. Yes, he watches television and learns about everything that relates to Native American, but what does that really mean? Zits says it makes him feel like a “real Indian.” So, he’s not doing this because he wants to be loyal to the Indians, he wants to be one. He wants to behave and live like they do. Because he was born half-Irish, half-Indian, Zits thinks he should live up to their standards. However, his identity is primarily shaped by physical attributes, not cultural experiences. Zits even says he’s not “a legal Indian” earlier in the narrative when referring to the Indian Child Welfare Act that was designed to protect half-breed