Effects of Colonization on Identity

Victor this character, throughout the story THIS IS WHAT IT MEANS
TO SAY PHOENIX,
ARIZONA we can see how colonization negatively affects Victor and his relationships. One key example that i noticed is his interaction with Cathy the gymnast.

Cathy the gymnast smiled and waved

good-bye.

“She was really nice,

” Thomas said.

“Yeah, but everybody talks to everybody on airplanes,

Victor said. “It’s too bad we can’t always be that way.”

“You always used to tell me I think too much,

” Thomas

said. “Now it sounds like you do.”

PAGE 108
THIS IS WHAT IT MEANS
TO SAY PHOENIX,
ARIZONA
Sherman Alexie

Here we are exposed to Victor’s mindset towards the outside world. We can see how he truly expects Americans to be unfriendly or judgmental of their lifestyle or way of being. This honestly eye-opening. We can come to the conclusion that Victor looked at himself as inferior to Cathy and was fearful to ever open up to interacting with americans. Maybe his surroundings painted Americans as enemies. We will never know but it’s a question that clears many uncertainties.

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