This Is What It Means To Say Phoenix Arizona Summary

In the short story “This Is What It Means to Say Phoenix, Arizona” written by Sherman Alexie, Victor Joseph and Thomas Builds - The – Fire have not always gotten along. While growing up on the same Indian Reservation, they had separate friend groups (Alexie 874). Throughout the movie Smoke Signals, Victor Joseph’s and Thomas Builds – the – Fire’s, friendship strengthens. While Arnold Joseph, Victor’s father, is living in Phoenix, Arizona, he meets his neighbor Suzy Song. In the movie, Victor and Thomas grew up together on the Coeur d’Alene Indian reservation. When they were babies, Thomas’s parents were killed in a house fire. He was then raised by his grandmother. Growing up Thomas tried to be Victor’s friend, but Victor wanted nothing to …show more content…
Victor only had enough money to get to Phoenix and not enough money to get back. Thomas saw this as an opportunity after he saw Arlene in the Trading Post upset about Arnold’s death. Thomas found this to be the perfect opportunity to help Victor. “I’ve got some money saved up,” Thomas said. “It’s enough to get us down there but you have to get us back. I’ve got this hundred dollars, Victor said. And my dad had a savings account I’m going to claim. How much in your dad’s account? Enough. A few hundred. Sounds good. When we leaving” (Alexie 876)? The only thing Thomas wanted in return from Victor was to come with him to Phoenix. Victor was unsure about having Thomas come with him. He was unsure because of the stories Thomas told. Thomas tells the same stories over and over. Even though Victor does not want Thomas to come along, he realizes this would be his only way to Phoenix. Thomas is wanting to be Victor’s friend (Alexie …show more content…
In the short story, Victor and Thomas’s friendship does not grow as much as it does in the movie. However, Victor does allow Thomas to come with him to Phoenix to get his father’s ashes. The theme of friendship plays a role in the short story and book. Throughout the stories you can see Victor and Thomas’s friendship evolve over the stories. While Victor and Thomas are on the Indian reservation their friendship does not gorw. When they travel together their friendship starts to develop and they rely on each other. After they get back from their trip to Phoenix with Arnold, Thomas realizes that Victor and he will probably never speak again once he drops him off at his house. Victor and Thomas have different personalities. Victor is more social than Thomas. Thomas is seen as an outcast, does not have many friends (Smoke