You Don T Have To Say You Love Me Analysis
Violence in "You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me"
"Our tears were the only thing we could control. So not crying felt like we had won something" (Sherman 175). To experience such a traumatic and painful series of events within ones a lifespan leaves the survivor emotionally detach. Sherman Alexie’s memoir, "You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me" gives readers a glimpse into Native American life from Sherman personal perspective. In Sherman Alexie memoir through these tragic moments readers can see different types of violence shown such as sexual violence, cultural violence, and physical violence. Through examining the stories of these victim's readers can make a connection towards why this cycle of violence persist.
First, the type of violence that is introduced in the beginning of Alexie's memoir is sexual violence. Specially, with Sherman mother, who's presence in the story introduces sexual violence within the reservation. For example, in chapter 50 readers learn through Sherman mother that Alexie grandmother was raped from a man living in different indigenous tribe. The man who rape Sherman grandmother is Sherman unrecognized grandfather. This chapter overall is significant because it introduces how violence is not only common on the reservation but through generations. Considering the pain, we see …show more content…
Here readers can see how physical violence turns into cultural violence. "Silence becomes the tribal ceremony that everybody performs"(Alexie 178). The culture seen through social rules has a connection to sexual violence. Offenders that get away without justice contribute to this ongoing cycle of violence. Readers can see how this continue practice of violence and the victims silence promotes this system were violence goes unpunished. Readers can relate this scene to current issue with our own society. From our own society readers know that violence which goes unpunished becomes a cycle onward to the next
"Our tears were the only thing we could control. So not crying felt like we had won something" (Sherman 175). To experience such a traumatic and painful series of events within ones a lifespan leaves the survivor emotionally detach. Sherman Alexie’s memoir, "You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me" gives readers a glimpse into Native American life from Sherman personal perspective. In Sherman Alexie memoir through these tragic moments readers can see different types of violence shown such as sexual violence, cultural violence, and physical violence. Through examining the stories of these victim's readers can make a connection towards why this cycle of violence persist.
First, the type of violence that is introduced in the beginning of Alexie's memoir is sexual violence. Specially, with Sherman mother, who's presence in the story introduces sexual violence within the reservation. For example, in chapter 50 readers learn through Sherman mother that Alexie grandmother was raped from a man living in different indigenous tribe. The man who rape Sherman grandmother is Sherman unrecognized grandfather. This chapter overall is significant because it introduces how violence is not only common on the reservation but through generations. Considering the pain, we see …show more content…
Here readers can see how physical violence turns into cultural violence. "Silence becomes the tribal ceremony that everybody performs"(Alexie 178). The culture seen through social rules has a connection to sexual violence. Offenders that get away without justice contribute to this ongoing cycle of violence. Readers can see how this continue practice of violence and the victims silence promotes this system were violence goes unpunished. Readers can relate this scene to current issue with our own society. From our own society readers know that violence which goes unpunished becomes a cycle onward to the next