Critical Analysis Essay #2 Sherman Alexie What You Pawn I Will Redeem

Critical Analysis Essay #2: Sherman Alexie “What You Pawn I Will Redeem” Sherman Alexie’s short story, “What You Pawn I Will Redeem,” follows a homeless Spokane Indian man named Jackson Jackson in his quest to redeem his grandmother’s regalia. The last paragraph of this short story connects to the title with metaphors and symbolism in which Jackson Jackson, as imperfect and invisible as he is, as a homeless Native American, finally becomes a visible redeemer to the world, rather than a pawn, when he succeeds in winning his grandmother in the regalia. Alexie’s cyclical writing style connects the title of the story to the very end using the title as a metaphor specifically with the words pawn and redeem. In the story, the word pawn literally refers to the pawn shop in which Jackson Jackson finds his grandmother’s regalia. People in need of fast cash generally use pawn shops and as Jackson Jackson says, “we Indians have built-in pawnshop radar.” (2) Alternatively, in chess, a pawn is something you move without much regard or care to achieve your goal. Alexie uses this less literal meaning of pawns to speak about the role of Native Americans as pawns in the white man’s conquest for land and power. However, in chess, a pawn reaching the end of the chessboard transforms into a queen piece which plays out in this story. Jackson becomes a “queen” when he regains his sense of cultural identity through redeeming his grandmother’s regalia. To redeem something is “to gain or regain possession of something” as well as to “compensate for faults of something” (dictionary). As Alexie redeems the regalia, he regains himself and all that he has lost. The yellow bead in the story is symbolic of imperfection. Jackson explains, “Because they don’t want to be perfect, because only God is perfect, Indians sew flaws into their powwow regalia.” (2). Jackson is the flawed character in this story with his personality and background but also in society’s eyes by being both Native American and homeless. When describing the yellow bead and himself in the last paragraph, Jackson Jackson says, “I knew that solitary yellow bead was part of me. I knew I was that yellow bead in part.” (15). These two sentences, although similar, are quite different. The word solitary means “done or existing alone” (dictionary) which is interesting in regards to Jackson because he is never existing alone nor is the yellow bead because although the yellow bead is different than the other beads around it, it cannot exist as something different without the other beads to compare it to. Despite Jackson being around others, he is “lonesome” (13) just like the yellow bead surrounded by the other beads. Jackson is the yellow bead in part because he is a part of the homeless and Native American communities. Both of these groups are invisible and ignored as Jackson Jackson is, as the yellow bead on the regalia is. Jackson Jackson is searching for his cultural identity which he finds when he gets his grandmother’s regalia. Rather than remaining as the pawn, he finally becomes the redeemer. After obtaining the regalia, Jackson wraps it around himself and starts to dance. When describing this, he says, “They watched me dance with my grandmother. I was my grandmother, dancing.” (15). These two lines are quite similar but also quite different. The first sentence relates to the Indian ideas of sharing winnings. After winning a hundred dollars on a scratch-off ticket, Jackson says, “When you win, you’re supposed to share with your family.” (7) In this instance, Jackson has won by getting back the regalia that was stolen from his family 50 years prior and is sharing his winnings with his grandmother and by doing so is dancing with her. The second sentence is an instance of a delusion in which Jackson sees himself as his grandmother. Jackson has seen himself disappear “piece by piece” (1) and saw the quest for the regalia to be what he needs to find himself and his identity. This delusion is a result of many things particularly his alcoholism, mental illness and the fact that it appears that Jackson got hit by a car. This delusion takes place after he says, “I stepped off the sidewalk and into the intersection. Pedestrians stopped. Cars stopped. The city stopped.” (15). Jackson is a part of these invisible groups and sadly can only be seen when tragedy hits which is why for once everyone watches him as he becomes the redeemer. In Alexie’s “What You Pawn I Will Redeem,” Jackson Jackson regains a sense of self by redeeming his grandmother’s regalia. Metaphors and symbolism connect the title to the last paragraph of the story. 796 words. Works Cited : Alexie, Sherman. “What You Pawn I Will Redeem.” The New Yorker, The New Yorker, 19 June 2017, www.newyorker.com/magazine/2003/04/21/what-you-pawn-i-will-redeem. “Pawn.” Dictionary “Redeem.” Dictionary “Redemption.” Dictionary “Solitary.” Dictionary https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2003/04/21/what-you-pawn-i-will-redeem Prompt What is your understanding of the ending and how is your interpretation of the ending connected to the title of the story? Include examples and analyses of Jackson’s character in response, focusing on Alexie’s use of elements of fiction , especially figurative language. Focus on resolutions or lack thereof at the end of the story and analyze the figurative elements that Alexie uses 800 words Starts with “ I took my grandmother’s regalia Solitary - done or existing alone. Yellow bead - Imperfection was inside of him and he was part of the imperfection of people , native american + homeless , idea of imperfect Wrapped in regalia , breathed her in They watched him - he wasn’t the invisible homeless man anymore, Natives and homeless have been invisible in many aspects of America Was with grandmother, idea of sharing winnings with family He wasn’t invisible because he got hit by the car when crossing the street , he was literally with his grandma dancing , death as redemption I was my grandmother, dancing - he was finally liberated - self doubt Did he die? Lost soul = moment of redemption Who is “you” You - white people, conquerors of native land and heritage Title - pawn, redeem Pawn - pawn shop , chess , natives as pawns Pawnshop - poor people can give money - built in radar Chess pawn - get to the end - queen piece Won the game Redeem - gain Regalia - the emblems or insignia of royalty paragraphs 1. Intro a. Thesis i. Sherman’s almost cyclical writing style connects the title of the story to the very end, as he uses ideas and motifs embedded in the story’s title to . The notion of pawns or pawning is carried to the very end of the story, as Jackson, now clothed in his grandmother’s regalia, is elevated from his status as a pawn, the lowliest piece on life’s metaphorical chess board, to a queen. The same holds true for other key themes like the uniqueness and imperfection of the yellow bead, and the life and free spirit of Jackson’s 2. 3. 4. 5. grandmother, themes that Sherman brings up once again in the story’s last paragraph. Analysis of Title to ending a. A theme central to the story is b. Pawn - pawnshop , chess, natives as pawns c. Redeem - gain or regain possession of (something) in exchange for payment. compensate for the faults or bad aspects of (something). d. Who is you? Who is I? Yellow Bead - part of me, bead in part a. Solitary - done or existing alone b. Yellow bead - Imperfection was inside of him , part of him c. Bead in part by being a part of those imperfect groups of people : homeless and NA Grandmother - with my grandmother, was my grandmother a. Death as redemption , lost soul b. Idea of dancing c. Invisible becoming visible - they stopped and watched - homeless and Native Americans are invisible and ignored d. Indian idea of sharing winnings (With grandmother) e. Was grandmother, dancing - analysis -> death? Realization- cultural identity, more than just a homeless indian man , trying to connect with lost culture Conclusion Topic sentence / main point Evidence for main point Examples from the text for evidence What do examples mean What literary element does each detail represent What figures of speech are used What is the connection between the main point of the paragraph and the thesis Introduction - Writers full name - Title - Topic of text - Thesis - Does thesis respond to prompt - Is thesis debatable ? evidence ? Body Paragraphs - Does each body paragraph focus on ONE main idea that supports the thesis? - Does each body paragraph begin with a topic sentence and end with a sentence that connects to the thesis? - Does each body paragraph develop the subordinate idea by citing specific details from the story? Textual evidence - Is each detail explicated so that the reader is clear about how you have interpreted the evidence? Conclusion - Does the conclusion avoid referencing new subordinating ideas ? - Does the conclusion summarize your thesis and your argument in a new way? - Does your conclusion mention the writer and the story.