Humor Alexie example essay topic

"There was another civil war, another terrorist bomb exploded, and one more plane crashes and all aboard were presumed dead. The crime rate is rising in every city with populations larger then 10,000, and a farmer shot his banker after foreclosure on his 1,000 acres" (17). In the short story "The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fist fighting in Heaven", Sherman Alexie focuses on the need to fit in, stereotypes, and Indian-white relations. I believe that Alexie is trying to illustrate to readers that the country has major issues that need to be addressed.

Alexie focuses primarily on people's great need to fit into society. Through the development of the protagonist in the story, Alexie shows how out of place people feel when they do not fit society's "norm". The protagonist, for example, tells an officer who has just profiled him, "I wanted to tell him that I didn't fit the profile of the country but I knew it would just get me into trouble" (15). Through this statement Alexie show that even in a person's own country so many people feel out of place. People are always trying to fit in with what society expects them to be, without making a statement too bold that makes them stand out.

Alexie does a wonderful job of saying that people all want a place they recognize and in which they feel at home. "Seems I'd spent my whole life that way, looking for anything I recognize" (15), the protagonist says. The major cause of people feeling outcast, and separated from society is people's problems with stereotyping and discrimination. Alexie argues that all people stereotype, all people pass judgements and all people are incredibly distrustful in today's society.

Alexie uses the 7-11, a place where the protagonist formally worked, as the perfect place to demonstrate people's distrust. Headlines today read of numerous robberies, gas station "shoot 'em up's", and many other crimes. In today's society people have a million reasons to be distrustful, but Alexie tries to show readers there is a large difference between distrust and discrimination. As the protagonist walked into the 7-11 the clerk watched him carefully, "He looked me over so he could describe me to the police later" (15).

The clerk was suspicious of the man because he had dark skin and dark hair. Society judges on looks because they don't have the time to get to know the person on the inside. The cop confronted the protagonist, "You " re making people nervous. You don't fit the profile of the neighborhood" (15). The author captures the moral of the story in this one statement. An innocent man, driving around in a neighborhood that he didn't "fit the profile" should not be grounds for people to call the police.

The final point Alexie focuses on is the problem with Indian-white relations. The protagonist of the story is a reflection of Alexie, a Spokane Indian himself. Alexie is trying to express to readers that the Spokane and all other tribes still hold a grudge against "white men". Due to the history behind the Indian's land being taken from them, there is a lot of repressed anger. Alexie tries to express that the Indian people have not accepted the fate that has been given to them. Through the protagonists badgering humor Alexie expresses how he truly feels.

Alexie describes the clerk's reaction as, "He swallowed hard like a white man does in those situations". This statement shows the resentment and judgmental thoughts that Indians still hold on to. I think that Alexie wants readers to be aware of the existence of Indians. The same kind of quote was used again later in the story, referring to the clerk as white and not by a name.

The protagonist looks at the clerk and thinks, "There was something about him I liked, even if it was three in the morning and he was white" (15). These two quotes are totally contradictory to the major theme of the story. The protagonist was defining the clerk by the color of his skin, and that is the very thing that Alexie wanted society to recognize as being wrong. Whether we choose to agree with what Alexie is saying or not, society must recognize that Indians are part of our society today. In all, the story brought to reader's attention crucial problems in today's society. Although the tone of the story was one of mean humor and a great need for change at the end, Alexie makes a point for hope in society.

While the protagonist was speaking to his former girlfriend he says", 'What's going to happen to us?' I asked her and wished I had the answers for my self' " (19). She responded " 'I don't know,' she said. 'I want to change the world' " (19). Even if all relationship do not end perfectly there is still hope for a friendship, or in society's case, for a mutual understanding.