Smoke Signals Response
A strong father-son bond is important for most children. In the case of Victor, the relationship with his father was only existent early on in his life. Arnold, Victor’s father, started drinking because of the tragic incident that resulted in Thomas becoming an orphan. Arnold became an alcoholic; his actions led to him being thrown out of the house by his wife. Victor grew up around his father being a drunk and very abusive. The metaphor of the symbol fire is introduced when Thomas’ house burns down with his family in it.
As Thomas narrates the opening scene, he states a metaphor “some kids are born from fire and some are born from ash”. This metaphor is for Victor and Thomas, Victor being the fire, and Thomas being the ash. Victor is viewed as the fire because he is unemotional and masculine, while Thomas is described as ash because he is emotional and weak. Victor views himself as a “real” Indian; he tries to change Thomas’ appearance by telling him to get rid of the nerdy looking …show more content…
During their drive back they get into a car accident. This life changing moment helped Victor begin to understand who his father was. He begins to learn that his father was only human and did the best he could with what he had or knew. Forgiveness of his father and the renewed friendship with Thomas takes place when Victor splits Arnold’s ashes and calls him “our father”. In the last scene, as Victor began to dump his father’s ashes into the water, a poem is recited by Thomas. Through this scene the rawness of Victors emotions are displayed. Victor collapses on the bridge into a fetal position regressing to something umbilical. This was Victor’s ceremony that all Native Americans are supposed to have at least once in their lifetime. Victor had a sense of being reborn after he lets go of all the anger and forgives his father. Victor had finally come to peace within himself and his
A strong father-son bond is important for most children. In the case of Victor, the relationship with his father was only existent early on in his life. Arnold, Victor’s father, started drinking because of the tragic incident that resulted in Thomas becoming an orphan. Arnold became an alcoholic; his actions led to him being thrown out of the house by his wife. Victor grew up around his father being a drunk and very abusive. The metaphor of the symbol fire is introduced when Thomas’ house burns down with his family in it.
As Thomas narrates the opening scene, he states a metaphor “some kids are born from fire and some are born from ash”. This metaphor is for Victor and Thomas, Victor being the fire, and Thomas being the ash. Victor is viewed as the fire because he is unemotional and masculine, while Thomas is described as ash because he is emotional and weak. Victor views himself as a “real” Indian; he tries to change Thomas’ appearance by telling him to get rid of the nerdy looking …show more content…
During their drive back they get into a car accident. This life changing moment helped Victor begin to understand who his father was. He begins to learn that his father was only human and did the best he could with what he had or knew. Forgiveness of his father and the renewed friendship with Thomas takes place when Victor splits Arnold’s ashes and calls him “our father”. In the last scene, as Victor began to dump his father’s ashes into the water, a poem is recited by Thomas. Through this scene the rawness of Victors emotions are displayed. Victor collapses on the bridge into a fetal position regressing to something umbilical. This was Victor’s ceremony that all Native Americans are supposed to have at least once in their lifetime. Victor had a sense of being reborn after he lets go of all the anger and forgives his father. Victor had finally come to peace within himself and his