Chapter 1: Every Trip is a Quest

Lit/Prof

"What It Means to Say Phoenix, Arizona" --Sherman Alexie

This short story by Sherman Alexie includes many elements that are present in the first chapter of "How to Read Literature Like a Professor" which focuses on the parts of a quest. Foster focuses on five central components that make up a quest: quester, place to go, reason for going there, challenges and trials on the way, and the real reason for going there. In the story "What it Means to Say Phoenix, Arizona" the main character, Victor is the established "quester" when he accepts his mission to retrieve his father's belongings after his passing from Arizona. His goal is soon challenged when he realizes he has little money and his tribe is unwilling to pay for transportation due to the economic depletion. After considering many different options a villager by the name of Thomas Builds-The-Fire offers to spare him some money, but in return he wishes to travel with him. Victor feels uneasy about this decision because the two men used to be companion as children but Thomas's story telling became too much for Victor to handle and they were no longer on speaking terms But Victor accepts the offer and they go to Phoenix and collect his father's ashes and a few personal belonging. One peculiar event that the travelers encounter is the "drought" of animals on their way back to the reservation.

In a way this event is a symbol of Thomas's loneliness. He is a loner and is not accepted by anyone else in his tribe because of his continuation to tell stories that no one is interested in. As soon as he takes over to drive, the only animal that they see dies. Their response is also very interesting, saying that he must have committed suicide. This event helps Victor realize what Thomas is going through, he has no one and could eventually (much like the rabbit) be unable to stand it. When Victor states he is willing to drive as a sign of giving a hand to Thomas, not because he doesn't want to drive but as a symbol that someone will be there to help him. This event is one of the most important in the whole story; it establishes the true meaning behind the quest. Victor did not simply go to collect an old truck and his father's ashes; instead he was there to show Thomas that even though they are no longer friends he is not willing to see him suffer.

This trip symbolizes a changing relationship between Victor and Thomas, although Victor knows that when they are back in the reservation they will never again become friends this is alright with Thomas because of the connection they made on the trip, he knows he can let go. After the trip they have a similar understanding and respect for each other, this is evident when they are talking about what to do with their share of the ashes.

Overall this story illustrates the main points of a quest established by Foster in his book but it also proves that in some cases the intentions of a quest may change along the way. In a story the author may have a journey for the protagonist to go on but the depth of the story may lie within the lesson learned along the way.