Summary Of This Is What It Means To Say Phoenix Arizona

Mimeomia—as defined by The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows is "the frustration of knowing how easily you fit into a stereotype, even if you never intended to, even if it’s unfair, even if everyone else feels the same way" (Koeing). Often individuals grow a sense of shame towards their culture. Said individuals will try to minimize or shield their cultural involvement to hide what they are so humiliated by—their bones, their blood. In the short story, “This Is What It Means to Say Phoenix, Arizona,” author Sherman Alexie tells the story of Victor, a Native American who has recently found out his father has passed away and how he must journey with his cousin, Thomas Builds-the-Fire, to collect his father’s remains and property. By navigating through

For instance, when Victor first comes to the realization that he is ashamed of talking to Thomas, he indirectly shows that he is embarrassed of his culture. Thomas Build-the-Fire and his traditional storytelling are a synecdoche for Native American culture. Furthermore, by detailing Victor's embarrassment of Thomas who "told the same damn stories over and over again" Alexie shows that Victor has a deep distaste for the Native American tradition of storytelling (Alexie 274). Another example of Victor's embarrassment is when Victor and Thomas are on an airplane ride to Arizona and they have an exchange of words with a gymnast. Victor "close[s] his eyes in embarrassment" while Thomas initiates contact with the women (Alexie 277). Victor is described to be ashamed by the look of Thomas with "ratty old braids and broken teeth" holding a conversation with a "beautiful Olympic gymnast" (Alexie 277). The contact Thomas has with the women symbolizes the uneasy relation Native American communities have with the outside world. While Victor does have a moment of pride when he quickly tells the women that he is a "'Full-blood'" Indian, the encounter ends with Victor saying "'it's too bad we can't always be that way'" (Alexie 277). This foreshadowing event aims to convey the idea that Victor is aware that in other social circumstances he would hide being a Native American, but also shows the priming of his ability to be proud of his