Reservation Blues- Symbolism

Sherman Alexie uses a great deal of symbolism in Reservation Blues. The most prominent symbol in the novel is Robert Johnson’s guitar. As a young man, Johnson traded his soul to the Gentlemen to be able to play the guitar like no other. After passing the guitar onto Thomas, the guitar represents the Coyote Spring’s dreams of fame. At first, the guitar’s music seems beautiful and alluring. Likewise, the entire band becomes star-struck as they gain fans and are visited by a producer. However, the guitar may also be a little bit dangerous. The man-who-was-probably-Lakota warns Thomas when he sees him holding the guitar, stating “Music is a dangerous thing,” (Pg 12). He is alluding to the future trouble it will cause. Victor must also wear gloves to protect his hands from the burns and cuts Johnson suffered. Still the guitar seems like a wonderful gift, it until it betrays Coyote Springs. At the New York City audition, the guitar seems to turn against Victor, as it bucks away from him. The song falls to pieces the band simply watches as “Victor’s guitar kept withering in his hands until it broke the straps and fell to the floor in a flurry of feedback,” (Pg 226). Later, the guitar comes back to haunt Victor like the regret of a lost dream. Although he left the instrument in New York, he believes it followed him when he sees a guitar case at the airport. There is no shame in aspiring to a career in music. However, Coyote Springs became caught up in the quest for fame, and it eventually tore their lives apart.

Alcoholism is also used as a symbolical death for Victor. After Junior’s suicide, Victor encounters a very difficult mourning period. Thomas, Chess and Checkers leave the reservation in hope of a new start, leaving Victor behind. Although he attempts to turn his life around, he cannot. Page 293 demonstrates Victor’s slow fall into self-destruction- “That little explosion of the beer can sounded exactly like a smaller, slower version of the explosion Junior’s rifle made on the water tower.” Junior shot himself because he did not know how to cope with difficulties of life. Although Victor promised to stop drinking, he also succumbs in his despair. It is likely that Victor will lapse into a life of alcoholism, much like other members of the tribe, and soon join Junior in the overcrowded graveyard.

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.

Reservation Blues- Setting

The setting of Reservation Blues plays a key role in the development of the plot. The novel begins on the Spokane Indian Reservation in Spokane, Washington. As indicated by the work’s title, the reservation is a bleak residence. Surrounded by the magnificent Wellpinit Mountain and vast forests, visitors to the reservation frequently comment on its natural beauty. However, Thomas Builds-the-Fire often replies, “But you haven’t seen everything,” (Pg 6). Delving further into the small town on the reservation, the economic and social depression of the town becomes evident. Few stores exist, and the most successful brings in revenue mainly from its slot machines. The residents live in poorly made and half-finished government housing and only a small Indian Health Clinic exists on the property. Furthermore, there is a strong sense of resentment and bitterness towards the United States and Caucasians citizens. Thomas’ journal reveals his own harbored feelings when he creates “The Reservation’s 10 Commandments as Given by the United States of America to the Spokane Indians,” which lists the injustices his tribe has endured. At first, these feeling motivate Coyote Springs to achieve fame and wealth. The members of the band view musical success as a way to escape from the ordeals of the reservation. However, after returning to the reservation after a failed audition in New York City, the musicians are firmly reminded of the racial barrier that exists between Native Americans and whites. It is this discrimination that motivates Chess to propose to Thomas. She states, “I want my babies to look up and see two brown faces. That’s the best thing we can give them, enit?” (Pg 284). Although Chess and Thomas choose to leave, the experience of growing up on a reservation deeply impacts their plans for the future.

In addition, the reservation is filled with alcoholism. Not only do Victor and Junior spend their days in the local bar, but Thomas’ father is described as a “zombie” passed out drunk on the sidewalk. Likewise, depression and suicide also run rampant. The graveyard, filled with those who have taken their own life, is the one part of town that consistently grows. At the end of the novel, Junior becomes overwhelmed by memories of his white college girlfriend Lynn and the baby they almost had. Unequipped to deal with his emotions, he turns to suicide to escape from her rejection after she became pregnant. Perhaps if he had not been surrounded by constant suicides, as well as the looming racial barrier, Junior would have been able to work his feelings out.