Post #4 - From Dreams To Nightmares

The chain of events that happen upon arrival from New York to the end of the novel are disturbing.  To start, I believe it is very sad when Coyote Springs loses their chance at freedom.  They have just been brought New York, only to fail miserably under pressure.  Sheridan ends up saying that "'I tried to help these goddamn Indians.  But they don't want help.  They don't want anything'" (Alexie 229).  It saddens me because, unfortunately, that is the way things are in life.  Many people are given the chance to succeed but somehow pressure gets to them and ruins this chance.  It's unfortunate, but it's also life.  From that point forward, however, things just get worse.  The night before Coyote Springs leaves New York for home, Sheridan practically rapes Checkers.  In context, the author reveals that "Sheridan kissed Checkers, bit down hard on her lips.  He was pulling at her clothes" (Alexie 241).  Not only did Sheridan just fire the group, he also tries to rape one of the women.  If not for George Wright barging in when he did, Sheridan would have completed his evil deed.  Some of the events appall me, yet this scene has some symbolism behind it.  I feel as if the author is trying to portray the white man as believing to be inherently powerful, and that all other races are submissive to him.  This use of symbolism is very compelling.  Even further in the story, Junior ends up killing himself.  It saddens me when Junior's ghost talks with Victor, especially when he says "'Because when I closed m eyes like Thomas, I didn't see a damn thing.  Nothing.  Zilch.  No stories, no songs.  Nothing'" (Alexie 290).  Junior decides to kill himself because of the loss of his future.  He had dreamed of one day being at least a middle class citizen, however his dreams had been shattered and he has nothing to show for his hard work.  He can't see a future for himself anymore, so he kills himself.  It left me with goosebumps.