The main characters in “This is What it Means to Say Phoenix, Arizona” by Sherman Alexie, and “I Want to Be Miss. America” by Julia Alvarez, are both conflicted by person vs. person conflicts, person vs. self conflicts, and person vs. society conflicts.
Although they are very different people, Victor and Julia share similar issues about the people around them. Victor, from “This is What it Means to Say Phoenix, Arizona” by Sherman Alexie, had person vs. person conflicts with Thomas Builds-The-Fire, his ex best friend. “When they were fifteen and had long since stopped being friends, Victor and Thomas got into a fistfight” (Alexie 36). Victor had also had recent problems with Thomas when he embarrassed him on their plane ride to Phoenix. Julia …show more content…
Victor’s person vs. self conflictions were usually involving what would be better for his well-being. Victor was conflicted over whether to bring Thomas Builds-The-Fire with him to see his dead father in Phoenix. “Victor went home with his one hundred dollars and sat at the kitchen table. He held his head in his hands and thought about Thomas Builds-The-Fire …” (Alexie 34). Victor had also had person vs. self conflictions when the Tribal Council wouldn’t give him money for his trip to Phoenix. Julia’s person vs. self conflicts were mostly about her as a person; who she was. Julia is determined to fit in as a child, and often has person vs. self conflicts about whether she should listen to her mother, or if what she’s doing is right or wrong. She still is confused about her place in society after she is grown up, and is wondering what to do. “I am still that young teenager sitting in front of the black and white TV in my parents’ bedroom, knowing I will never be the beauty queen” (Alvarez …show more content…
Victor has disputes with his society because he had little money, and they weren’t willing to give him any. “... We do have some money available for the proper return of tribal members’ bodies. But I don’t think we have enough to bring your father all the way back from Phoenix” (Alexie 32). He had also recently lost his job at the BIA (Bureau of Indian Affairs). Julia, however, had problems fitting in with her newfound culture. “As young teenagers in our new country, my three sisters and I searched for clues on how to look as if we belonged here” (Alvarez 91). She has this problem even as she is an adult, still conscious about what she wears, knowing that she will never fit in.
In conclusion, Victor and Julia had had related conflictions. In “This is What it Means to Say Phoenix, Arizona” by Sherman Alexie, the conflict person vs. society is significant because since the Tribal Council did not let Victor use their money, he was able to bond further with Thomas by going with him, the conflict person vs. self is significant because it lets the reader look deeper into the thoughts and emotions of Victor, and the conflict person vs. person is significant because it shows why Victor was hesitant to go to Phoenix with
Although they are very different people, Victor and Julia share similar issues about the people around them. Victor, from “This is What it Means to Say Phoenix, Arizona” by Sherman Alexie, had person vs. person conflicts with Thomas Builds-The-Fire, his ex best friend. “When they were fifteen and had long since stopped being friends, Victor and Thomas got into a fistfight” (Alexie 36). Victor had also had recent problems with Thomas when he embarrassed him on their plane ride to Phoenix. Julia …show more content…
Victor’s person vs. self conflictions were usually involving what would be better for his well-being. Victor was conflicted over whether to bring Thomas Builds-The-Fire with him to see his dead father in Phoenix. “Victor went home with his one hundred dollars and sat at the kitchen table. He held his head in his hands and thought about Thomas Builds-The-Fire …” (Alexie 34). Victor had also had person vs. self conflictions when the Tribal Council wouldn’t give him money for his trip to Phoenix. Julia’s person vs. self conflicts were mostly about her as a person; who she was. Julia is determined to fit in as a child, and often has person vs. self conflicts about whether she should listen to her mother, or if what she’s doing is right or wrong. She still is confused about her place in society after she is grown up, and is wondering what to do. “I am still that young teenager sitting in front of the black and white TV in my parents’ bedroom, knowing I will never be the beauty queen” (Alvarez …show more content…
Victor has disputes with his society because he had little money, and they weren’t willing to give him any. “... We do have some money available for the proper return of tribal members’ bodies. But I don’t think we have enough to bring your father all the way back from Phoenix” (Alexie 32). He had also recently lost his job at the BIA (Bureau of Indian Affairs). Julia, however, had problems fitting in with her newfound culture. “As young teenagers in our new country, my three sisters and I searched for clues on how to look as if we belonged here” (Alvarez 91). She has this problem even as she is an adult, still conscious about what she wears, knowing that she will never fit in.
In conclusion, Victor and Julia had had related conflictions. In “This is What it Means to Say Phoenix, Arizona” by Sherman Alexie, the conflict person vs. society is significant because since the Tribal Council did not let Victor use their money, he was able to bond further with Thomas by going with him, the conflict person vs. self is significant because it lets the reader look deeper into the thoughts and emotions of Victor, and the conflict person vs. person is significant because it shows why Victor was hesitant to go to Phoenix with