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Does who tells a story matter by Rainbo Spoonhunter




In this essay I want to explain why who tells a story matter. For my example I am using the short story by Sherman Alexie titled, “For what you pawn I will redeem.” It is told in 3rd person narrative at a homeless man Jackson Jackson. It is a good example on how telling a story and who telling a story and who telling does matter and does have a huge impact on the way it is told. And also how well we all have different way of viewing things.

It has a huge importance on the way it has been told because if it was told from a different perspective. If it was told from a different perspective I wouldn’t have thought it would turn out the way it had. Jackson Jackson is a spokane indian who left his home and became homeless, he does say, “Piece by piece, I’ve disappeared, I’ve been disappearing ever since.” He explains he’s been homeless for six years, and believes he is an effective homeless man. He also goes on to say, “Being homeless is probably the only thing I’ve ever been good at.” The affect it has on what is not told doesn’t really matter in my opinion. Because the most of it does not relate to what the whole story us about nor what Jackson is trying to achieve throughout. But there are certain parts of the story he does go into detail to. Like what exactly happened to Rose, or junior, and the Aleuts. But their lives weren’t exactly about them. It was about how the regalia was his only tie he has left to them. His way of viewing things is a lot different because he does things I don’t agree with. He wanted the next heirloom but doesn’t seem all that worried about the way he finds and spends his money. He becomes easily distracted and spends his money willingly. It takes away form the effort I see behind his motivation to get the regalia. Jackson is straight forward with his feelings and what he’s thinking. So I believe every person has a different way of viewing things based on life experiences.

Although, I think we don’t see or not see things become we all have different way of viewing certain aspects in our lives are all entitled to our own opinion. And our minds are constantly trying to make sense of the world. So I think the who telling the story does matter. I think if it was told from a different characters perspective it would be entirely different. Though I don’t agree with Jackson’s choices, I like the way the story was written. And it has a very unexpected ending.



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