Thomas Builds-the-Fire

Basic Framework

• eccentric storyteller
• symbol of antique Native American tradition

Thomas in LR

• Alexie's target audience: Native Americans
• Thomas seeks to remedy plight and suffering of Native Americans via tradition
• Source of envy for his wisdom, courage, perserverance = outcast
• Seeks to instill antique Indian values within Indians in today's society via darker, heavier stories
• stories are darker because they are more personal, they define him, no family
• Ultimately ends up in jail
• Alexie's message is a warning to American Indians to be mature enough to embrace tradition and not neglect tribal identity.
• Thomas/stories are complex, enshroud in meaning

Thomas in SS

• Target audience: Non-Native Americans
• Purpose: make known tradition and plight of Native Americans
• Thomas is gawky/nerdy instead of outcast
• Seeks to verbalize antique Indian values to today's western society via transparent, lighthearted, humorous stories
• Why? to entertain/barter
• Thomas/stories are simple - not multifaceted

Dancing with Skeletons

Throughout life we must constantly strive to maintain a balance between reality and dreams to be successful. Living only in the present, we forget their dreams and aspirations. Conversely, by immersing ourselves completely in memories, hopes and aspirations, we cut all ties with reality, becoming unfocused. In "A Drug Called Tradition," Sherman Alexie explores and offers a solution to balance dreams with reality.

"Don't slow dance with your skeletons."

As an older, wiser, Victor reflects on this statement made to him by a fellow Native American, Thomas, he realizes that the skeletons represent our past and future. They are our "memories, dreams, and voices. But they trap you in the in-between, between touching and becoming" (22). Thomas warns Victor not to spend too much time reminiscing or day-dreaming about the future because memories and dreams make promises and "tell you all the things you want to hear" (22). It is this appeal that lures us in, preventing our ability to take charge of our present situation.

The only way to maintain the balance is to "keep walking, keep moving, and not to wear a watch" (22). Skeletons of the past shadow us and skeletons of the future lead us trapping us in the present. As long as we keep in step between these two skeletons, and let them give us cues as to where we should be in life (the watch), the balance is kept - leaving us with one responsibility: to control the "now."

Empowering women

Although the antiheroine's actions are degrading to women, they allow the protagonist for woment to become empowered by acting as catalysts for transformation. In the "girls gone wild" coming of age story the antiheroine, represented by characters such as Legs/Evie, engage in overt drug use, commit crimes, and purposely are aggressive to display superority over "good girls". These acts themselves are frowned upon in society - degrading the moral character of women. The insecurity of "good girls" such as Tracy/Maddy, attract them to follow the actions of their domineering antiheroine counterparts - thus initiating their process of maturation. Immersed in the dark world of the antiheroine, the protagonist realizes that she has strayed far from her innocent beginnings. She then seeks to redeem her moral character by ending her devious ways and when she accomplishes this she has completed the maturation process with newfound wisdom - becoming an empowered woman.

As I previously stated, it is the the antiheroine's ammoral actions that degrade their status as women. Humanizing this bad girl adds complexity to her character - evoking feelings of sympathy and/or empathy from the audience. We don't feel empowered by their desolate situation, but we feel inclined to save her.