"Reservation Blues"

Paper Summary:

This paper briefly describes how "Reservation Blues" represents a motivating piece of literature because it demonstrates how Native Americans were not afraid to confront the difficulties of life to accomplish their greatest desires and to succeed. Focus is placed on the relationship between the two main characters in the novel, Chess and Checkers, and how they were influenced by white culture.

From the Paper:

"Alexie brings the subject of a love-hate relationship to the so called "whites" that Chess and Checkers portray early on in his novel. They all seem to face the same problem of trying to live in a white mans society while facing the stereotypes such as alcoholism, drugs, and a poor education. His use of stereotypes in different areas, makes it seem as if he is discriminating against Native Americans and making the Whites a bigger power. Alexie also uses mental, spiritual, and emotional struggles to show how the love-hate relationship that Chess and Checkers have toward the White Americans have been very influential on them. In Chapter 2, early on in the story, Alexie brings in the two white girls, Betty and Veronica, that join the band then leave because of issues with the Indian girls, Chess and Checkers, who are then turned into singers for the band. "Two white women, Betty and Veronica, had somehow found their way onto the reservation and showed up at every rehearsal"(Reservation Blues, pg 41)."

More papers on "Reservation Blues":

• Book Review # 46828 : "The Role of Music in "Reservation Blues"
• Analytical Essay # 8528 : "Religion and Belief in "Reservation Blues"
• Analytical Essay # 65688 : "Blue Winds Dancing"

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