Beauty By Sherman Alexie Summary

Sherman Alexie story “The Joy of Reading and Writing,” lets us know about his educational journey, the journey in which he figured out how to read. He does not recall any of how he learned how to read, but knows that he was three years of age. His father had a passion for reading, and would buy cheap books from pawnshops, the Salvation Army, and other cheap stores. It rubbed off on Alexie, who would start “reading” the books that his father claimed. In spite the fact that he experiences, childhood with a Spokane Indian reservation and is compelled to ignore school and learning, regardless he endeavors to succeed, to save his own life. Many of his fellow classmates flunk out and try to force him to do likewise, yet didn’t, he saw education
as his salvation. Alexie continued reading regardless of where he was, and his only objective, his only inspiration, was to save his life. He admits that he is surprised he turned into an author. He had never learned about writing novels or poetry, but simply read them. When he goes back to his reservation, he sees many children trying to be similar to him, attempting to save their own lives, but also many of the same children ignoring learning.
Alice Walker story “Beauty: When the Other Dancer is the Self,” uncovers that the thought of beauty is in views of one’s recognition.
Walker’s view of beauty is produced through her life-long journey to ultimately accept her appearance after a tragic accident as a young child which leaves her right eye blind and deformed. Through her journey of self-discovery, she transforms from a vein and conceited child that is constantly praised and admired for her appearance prior to the accident, to a young woman suddenly overwhelmed by shame and feelings of self-worthlessness that her injury has caused her. Suddenly, her entire life perspective is negatively altered as she faces harassment, rejection, and multiple life changes. It is not until she undergoes a surgical procedure to enhance the appearance of her eye that she starts to find acceptance with herself. Walker is in the end ready to discover peace with her eye and finally finds her self-esteem that was covered by torment, outrage, and disgrace from the beginning. In the end self-acceptance is more noteworthy than attempting to adjust to whatever remains of the world's guidelines of beauty. It is figuring out how to accept who you are, both internally and externally. Once you come to peace with your outer features, flaws included, you can then find peace with your internal ones, such as confidence, self-worth, faith in one’s self, and
happiness.