Indian Killer: Analysis

Analysis: Indian Killer Sherman Alexie paints the reader a picture in his book Indian Killer. He uses every possible element to his advantage. This includes his use of structure and form. Alexie uses these two elements in the shape of flashbacks, dreams and dream-like situations, the beginning compared to the end of the book, and the order in which events progress through the plot line. Within the story, Alexie utilizes flashbacks to bring the reader closer to the characters. The flashbacks are used give the reader some insight into the past and let the reader see how the characters are brought up and raised. When the reader looks into a characters past, they can find the particular struggles the characters went through and the reader can also get a feel for what their life has been like. In the case of John Smith, the reader observes that John has had a hard time coming to terms with his separation from his tribe and never really feels like he belongs with Olivia and Daniel. In the case of Jack Wilson, Jack is suffering from much the same situation as John. Jack is orphaned and searching to belong. He takes refuge in his study of Native American culture. Jack even goes to the extreme of inventing a distant Shilshomish relative. Alexie also uses flashbacks to introduce readers to new characters. The most predominant character introduced in this way is the Jesuit, Father Duncan. Father Duncan is never actually brought into the story as a live character, he exists only in John’s hallucinations and memories. Alexie also introduces Aaron and David Roger’s father through the use of David’s flashbacks. David’s flashbacks of his father portray a vivid image and correlation of his father’s hatred and racism toward Indians. This racism is engulfed in his brother’s thought processes throughout the book. Alexie accomplishes two things through his use of dreams and dream-like states. First, he uses what is described as a dream-like state to convey John’s