Emptiness Deep Within
According to Webster’s Dictionary, loneliness is the state of being, unfrequented by human beings; as, the loneliness of a road or a disposition toward being alone .We often times lose ourselves in the process of finding happiness and a friendly companion. In Sherman Alexie’s “This Is What It Means to Say Phoenix, Arizona”, the author presents a multitude of themes, such as forgiveness and self identity; however the imperative theme throughout the story was loneliness. Loneliness is the reoccurring theme in this short story, because the author provides the reader with various examples of the unfortunate life situations of Victor’s loss of his father and identity, as well as society’s isolation from Thomas-Builds-The Fire and the forlorn state of Arizona.
In the beginning of the short story, the author goes into details about the passing of Victor’s father. Although Victor was not close to his father, once he received the news about his father’s untimely death, he felt as if he lost a part of him and felt much lonelier. “Victor hadn’t seen his father in a few years, only talked to him on the telephone once or twice, but there still was a genetic pain, which was soon to be pain as real and immediate as a broken bone” ( …show more content…
Both Victor and Thomas grew up together in the state of Arizona. Thomas used Victor’s father as a guide to help Victor in his time of need. “Take care of each other is what my dreams were saying. Take care of each other” (Alexie 287). It was when puberty struck them that both began to have distinct personalities as well as identities. Robinson states that “Scholars provide further incite to the incident stating that, Victor and Thomas relationship was strained through puberty”. Through the separation of the two, the loneliness deep within became evident. Thomas had no one to talk to and Victor was stuck on working and keeping to himself
According to Webster’s Dictionary, loneliness is the state of being, unfrequented by human beings; as, the loneliness of a road or a disposition toward being alone .We often times lose ourselves in the process of finding happiness and a friendly companion. In Sherman Alexie’s “This Is What It Means to Say Phoenix, Arizona”, the author presents a multitude of themes, such as forgiveness and self identity; however the imperative theme throughout the story was loneliness. Loneliness is the reoccurring theme in this short story, because the author provides the reader with various examples of the unfortunate life situations of Victor’s loss of his father and identity, as well as society’s isolation from Thomas-Builds-The Fire and the forlorn state of Arizona.
In the beginning of the short story, the author goes into details about the passing of Victor’s father. Although Victor was not close to his father, once he received the news about his father’s untimely death, he felt as if he lost a part of him and felt much lonelier. “Victor hadn’t seen his father in a few years, only talked to him on the telephone once or twice, but there still was a genetic pain, which was soon to be pain as real and immediate as a broken bone” ( …show more content…
Both Victor and Thomas grew up together in the state of Arizona. Thomas used Victor’s father as a guide to help Victor in his time of need. “Take care of each other is what my dreams were saying. Take care of each other” (Alexie 287). It was when puberty struck them that both began to have distinct personalities as well as identities. Robinson states that “Scholars provide further incite to the incident stating that, Victor and Thomas relationship was strained through puberty”. Through the separation of the two, the loneliness deep within became evident. Thomas had no one to talk to and Victor was stuck on working and keeping to himself