Thomas Build The Fire Analysis

Hannah Arendt says that “nobody is the author or producer of his own life story”. This would lead us to believe that our lives are decided for us, either by fate or by the people around us and the actions they make during their stories Does this then create a need for external validation from other actors and sufferers in our story? Does this make us want to write our own stories? Is this why Thomas Builds-The-Fire tells his stories?

Thomas Builds-The-Fire looks to Victor for validation. On the plane it would appear that Thomas Builds-The-Fire is trying to impress the gymnast, Victor notes that “nobody back home would ever believe it” (pg 5) but was Thomas Builds-The-Fire really trying to impress Victor? Through speech and action, Thomas Builds-The-Fire tried to impress Victor multiple times in this text. The flying incident, for example, won Thomas Builds-The-Fire the recognition of the other boys as well, even if it was in the envious form of hating him for his courage. He told Victor stories while they were young, and Victor enjoyed them, saying

He tells Victor the story of the two indian boys being warriors when they were children, which is a version of the trip they go on to Phoenix. The two boys are Thomas Builds-The-Fire and Victor, and the bravery it took to steal the car is the same bravery it took to face Victor’s deceased father’s trailer and belongings. In the story Thomas Builds-The-Fire tells, “all their friends cheered and their parent’s eyes shone with pride” (pg. 4) while they are only greeted by Wilene LeBret waving and saying “Crazy indians made it” (pg. 10) after the Phoenix trip. Though this homecoming is considerably less exciting and victorious than the make-believe version, Thomas still sees the victory; he kept his promise to Victor’s father, and he has Victor’s approval and acknowledgment again, and a promise to listen to a