What You Pawn I Redeem Analysis

In the story “What You Pawn I Redeem” by Sherman Alexie we are introduced to a character named Jackson Jackson. He survived growing up on the Spokane Indian reservation, which was plagued by poverty, violence and substance abuse. Jackson has been at war with himself and his ability to commit. He struggles with his identity and resorts to being a homeless drunk. One day Jackson goes on an excursion, he had passed by a local pawn shop and noticed his grandmother’s regalia hanging up for sale. He stops in and speaks with the local pawn shop owner telling his story. The owner offered to sell him the regalia for $999; however, Sherman only has five dollars to his name, so the pawn store owner gave him 24 hours to come up with the money. By analyzing “What You Pawn I

In the story, “What You Pawn I Redeem” he brings his Native American culture to light by focusing on his grandmother’s regalia. The story is heavily focused on the Native American culture with a new world twist. Alexie focuses on Jackson’s quest to earn money to buy back his grandmother’s regalia. The regalia symbolizes the love he has for his grandmother and how he wants to dance with her one more time. Alexie’s grandmother was a significant influence in his life. She passed away when he was eight years old. There is a connection between the regalia with both Jackson and Alexie, which is both an emotional one but yet a spiritual one. Both the author and the character displays a sense of unconditional love for their grandmother. The regalia also symbolizes an awareness of self-discovery in the character Jackson. Once he puts the regalia on and starts dancing in the street, he comes to life. There is an active spiritual element that brings back the Native American culture and a sense of love that both the author and the character has been missing for many