What you pawn i will redeem analysis

Question 1

I chose prompt # 1 to write about: “Write an analysis of a key character in a literary work.”

Question 2

I believe every action has a motivation and justification not only in just everyday life situations but also in literature. Having this view, I believe, makes society more empathetic towards an individual when they act a certain way. People in real life situations and even the characters portrayed in literary works tend to pass judgment first instead of taking time to evaluate the factors influencing an action. The main purpose, though, is to evaluate the actions of a main character in a literary work so as to understand the motives that prompted their actions and how the character is affected by others in the literature work.

Question 3

The text I chose to write about is Sherman Alexie’s “What You Pawn, I will Redeem” for the key reason that it contributes to the writing prompt. Jackson, the narrator in the text, recounts how he wants to recover his grandmother’s dancing dress from a pawn shop. This action is prompted by his need to reestablish his connection to his roots. All through the text, Jackson seems to be wandering about the streets due to the fact that he has been homeless for six years which he justifies through the loss of his identity. Along the way, while being accompanied by his friends, he stumbles upon a pawnshop selling his grandmother’s regalia. He is determined to get it back despite not having enough money left to buy it. It showcases how strong his sentimentality drives him to pursue an almost impossible objective. This story resonates with fact that people in society have different reasons for the actions they undertake and they are even more affected with preexisting social factors like race just like the character in the story.

Question 4

Jackson’s determination to get back his grandmother’s traditional dressing dress signifies his reclamation of his ancestry and freedom from the control of the more privileged races. Racial segregation has led to the disillusionment of Jackson and his fellow Indian kinsmen.

Question 5

a. Jackson admits that he is homeless just like many other Indians in Seattle but they have dreams and families too.

b. Jackson believes he only matters to his teammates (Rose of Sharon and Junior).

c. The white shopkeeper does not seem surprised when Jackson gives proof that the regalia is his grandmother’s, despite the fact Indians are viewed with suspicion.

Question 6

One of my concerns regarding this project is how I will best and clearly articulate the subject matter with accurate brevity. I need to make sure that the paragraphs I write support the introduction and the conclusion. I am also concerned about how to obtain relevant primary and secondary sources that will support my working thesis so as to validate it. I intend to limit my search for research material to peer-reviewed and journal articles. The Library Catalog would be the best place to start researching (University at Buffalo, 2016).

References

Alexie, S. (2003). What You Pawn, I will Redeem. Retrieved from www.newyorker.com/magazine.com/magazine/2003/04/21/what-you-pawn-i-will-redeem

University at Buffalo. (2016).Finding and Evaluating Research Materials. Retrieved from library.buffalo.edu/help/research-tips/evaluate/