The What You Pawn I Will Redeem presents the message of cultural identity through the setting, symbolism, and historical context of the story.
Skwiot, E., & Clugston, W. (2019). Journey into literature (3rd ed.). Web.
First, the essential reference for this literary analysis is the primary source. What You Pawn I Will Redeem was written by Sherman Alexie and published in 2003 in the New Yorker magazine (Skwiot & Clugston, 2019). This short story is centered on a homeless Spokane Indian man determined to collect nearly one thousand dollars in one day to restore a precious powwow attire of his grandmother. The primary setting of this story is Seattle, and it is narrated by the protagonist called Jackson Jackson. What You Pawn I Will Redeem is not merely focused on the central character’s search for the money but instead incorporates the metaphysical search for identity. Jackson Jackson is far from home without close family around, which ultimately motivates him to reclaim not only a powwow but also his cultural identity and dignity. Overall, understanding the primary text’s focal passages and the storyline is central in developing claims for the literary analysis.
Peterson, N. (2010). “If I were Jewish, how would I mourn the dead?”: Holocaust and genocide in the work of Sherman Alexie. Melus, 35(3), 63-84. Web.
Furthermore, the scholarly secondary sources are vital in developing convincing arguments in the literary analysis. The 2010 article written by Peterson explores the effects of the Holocaust on the minority movements in the United States (Peterson, 2010). In particular, Native Americans outline similarities with this historical event to their past. Thus, this research draws attention to various scholars and writers that have contributed to the discourse of struggles that Native Americans face in the United States. She focuses on What You Pawn I Will Redeem while examining the symbolism, imagery, setting, and historical context of the story. The author claims that What You Pawn I Will Redeem brings awareness to the lasting impacts of colonialism on Native communities and affirms the significance of survival based on the personality of the protagonist. This article supports the thesis statement by adding to the interpretation and understanding of the symbols, history, and context behind the story.
Furlan, L. (2017). Indigenous cities: Urban Indian fiction and the histories of relocation. University of Nebraska Press. Web.
Lastly, to fully comprehend the central idea of the story, it is vital to analyze it from various perspectives. The second chapter of the 2017 book Indigenous Cities: Urban Indian Fiction and the Histories of Relocation, written by Furlan, examines the story’s setting. The author outlines the various urban motifs and aesthetics implied in Sherman Alexie’s work (Furlan, 2017). The author demonstrates Alexie’s portrayal of homelessness assists in drafting his exploration of the meaning behind the urban experience. By doing so, Alexie rearranges city areas and gives a new sense to a word home. This article is useful for the research and support thesis statement by explaining the significance of Seattle and homelessness in the context of What You Pawn I Will Redeem. Thus, presenting that Native people are invisible and unwanted; they are referred to by their status and lack of belonging. The setting serves as a metaphor for them being simultaneously inside and outside Seattle and the nation.