Representation of Life on the Reservation: The Historical Trauma Matrix and Social Issues in the Selected Works of Sherman Alexie

Abstract

The aim of the thesis is to analyze the themes of collective trauma, poverty, violence, alcoholism, and family destruction among Native Americans in the selected works of Sherman Alexie. He was born on the Spokane Indian Reservation in Wellpinit, Washington, which is the primary setting for his stories. He experienced poverty, hunger, and alcoholism, so, he does not romanticize life on the reservation. In the thesis, I analyze his novels Reservation Blues, Flight, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, his short story collection The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven, and his film Smoke Signals.