Sunday, January 30, 2011

Reservation Blues- Foil Characters

In Reservation Blues, Thomas Builds-the-Fire and Victor Joseph serve as foil characters. Sherman Alexie compares these two individuals to demonstrate the different ways to react to one’s environment. 

Thomas looks for the best in those around him and the world. Despite his difficult life growing up on the reservation, Thomas is not bitter like some. He genuinely tries to help Robert Johnson when he arrives on the reservation, and gives him the best advice he can. Although he has been tormented by Victor and Junior since he was a child, he still attempts to befriend them. It was Thomas who flew, and perhaps paid for the plane tickets, with Victor to pick up his father’s ashes. In addition, he later invites the pair to join his band. At one point, Robert Johnson’s guitar states that Thomas’ people need music. Thomas is resistant at first, but agrees with the guitar and is eager to help other Spokanes. Although his intentions eventually turn the tribe against him, and he is forced to leave the reservation, Thomas does not hold on to any bitterness. His forgiveness will allow him to be successful in the rest of his life.


Unlike Thomas, Victor is controlled by his hate and anger. As Thomas states on Pg 16, “Victor and Junior were as fragile as eggs, despite their warrior disguises.” Enraged by the treatment of those on the reservation, he often takes his anger out on the innocent, such as Thomas. In addition, he is unable to let the past go. It is revealed that Victor was abused as a young boy by a priest at camp. After Big Mom confronts him about his lingering resentment, he realizes, “he had prayed for [the priest’s] death for years, even wanted to kill him, but never once considered forgiveness,” (Pg 203). Victor’s fury simply leads him down a road to self-destruction. He becomes addicted to alcohol and chases after white women- “the best kind of revenge” against white men. In New York City, he loses control over his emotions, literally throwing away the band’s future as he hurls a saxophone at the music producer. Even his best friend’s suicide cannot convince him to change his ways. Initially after Junior’s death, Victor vows to quit drinking. However, after David Walks Along rejects his job application, Victor reverts back to his old ways, stealing money from the secretary’s purse to buy beer. Unable to forgive, Victor is left on the reservation, likely to fall further into a life of regret and alcoholism.

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