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This Is What It Means To Say Phoenix Arizona Essay

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Myles Hypse
February 23rd, 2017
English 1B
3:30-4:50pm

Victor & Thomas

The short story “This is What It Means to Say Phoenix, Arizona” by writer Sherman Alexie tells the tale of Victor, a young native american, and Thomas Builds-The-Fire, his alienated partner as they take a journey to Phoenix, Arizona to claim his father's savings account, along with bringing back his deceased father's ashes to the reservation. Victor and Thomas are foils of each other; Victor is a Native American living in a reservation in Spokane in a modern world, and Thomas is a Native American that represents ancient traditions colliding with the modern world.
Victor and Thomas differ in their beliefs of the traditional customs of Native Americans. Victor appears to not believe in the traditional beliefs, and is not a true Native American. Victor, like many others living on the reservation seems to have assimilated to the American lifestyle of the modern world, and does not follow or possibly believe the traditions of the Native Americans. Furthermore, it is apparent that when Victor is in need of guidance, he believes that the Native American traditions can guide him, but does not truly believe in some of them, unlike Thomas, who still has …show more content…
In one way or another, both men are on the journey to Phoenix, Arizona out of respect for Victor’s. Thomas recalls having a vision at age thirteen, causing him to travel more than fifty miles to get to Spokane Falls where victor’s father finds, and feeds him; in return Thomas promises to always look after Victor throughout life. Thomas travels with Victor to Phoenix out of respect for Victors deceased father and his promised to always look after him. Victor, like Thomas, is traveling to Phoenix out of respect for his father and a “sudden need of tradition” that Thomas is able to

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