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The Unspoken Truth In Indian Education By Sherman Alexie

396 Words2 Pages

Anna Theune Instructor: Young English 102 9 June 2023 The Unspoken Truth In “Indian Education,” Sherman Alexie provides many elements with underlying meanings that play a major role in the daily life of the narrator. One of these underlying elements is the lack of stability and marginalized existence. The narrator says, “I was always falling down” (Alexie). This alludes to the way that Indians are treated. In other words, Indians never have stability on the reservation; they are always looked down upon as if they were on the ground. More specifically, this foreshadows the continual prejudicial interactions that the narrator experiences throughout his education. Another element is the urgency and harsh reality to assimilate to others. In the …show more content…

If he does not cut his braids, he is not assimilated thus he cannot come to school and work toward progress. This alludes to a larger societal situation where if Indians do not assimilate into society, they are not set up for advancement. Once they are assimilated into mainstream society, they can work toward their goals and create a successful life. A third left-out element is the struggle for basic commodities on the reservation. The narrator mentions girls throwing up food and the reminder of the hangovers; he then reveals the line to get food on the reservation (Alexie). This suggests the everyday basic struggle for necessities on the reservation. The girls throwing up their food sends a harsh reminder of the hardships and alcoholism at home. It further reveals the societal norm of worrying about looks among other minor issues whereas the Indians worry about providing for their family; it displays the concerns and anxieties of mainstream society compared to the uncertainty of those living on the reservations. This further suggests the marginalized life that the Indians live on the reservation and the effects it has on their lives. In “Indian Education,” Alexie presents many unspoken

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