Summary
In the final chapter, Coyote Springs has a wake
for Junior, some sent flowers and condolences anonymously. Lester takes three
dogs because he didn’t have anything else to offer. Big Mom realizes despite
her sadness, she needs to help Coyote Springs say goodbye to Junior and heads
off with Father Arnold to say some prayers by the graveside. Coyote Springs
hands Lester’s dogs to Victor because they have plans to move to Spokane. They all
try to make sense of Junior’s existence through Big Mom, as she was the only one
in the reservation who knows how to provide closure. Chess and Checkers divulge
their plans to move to Spokane and tell Thomas about their plan. Victor then dreams
of Junior while he’s in the van and talks about giving up drinking and getting
a job. The next day, Victor tries to get Junior’s old job but is denied, so he
turns to alcohol for comfort and mourning his loss and his failure. Thomas gets
a letter from Betty and Veronica giving their condolences for Junior and
announcing their contract with Calvary Records. Thomas struggles with the news,
and after listening to the song, he thinks that someone is going to steal other
precious possessions and goes and hides them. They all go to the Longhouse to
eat but because there isn’t enough bread, Big Mom cuts the fry bread in half to
continue with the feast. Big Mom starts a collection to help their fellow
Indians, Coyote Springs, as Big Mom says “think of your tribal
responsibilities” (304). And so everyone pitches in and Thomas, Chess and
Checkers head off to the highway where they encounter shadow horses running
along side the van for comfort and to say goodbye.
Wake v.
Wake
The two different definitions of “wake” are: 1)
mourning for the dead and celebrating their new life after death and 2) the
people who are actually alive to wake up and do something with their life. Not
to walk around the reservation like a dead person, to be active and alive.
The
Epigraph
The song that prefaces chapter 4 does reflect
on how parents and ancestors’ lives can predict their children’s future because
everyone has a choice, but if those choices are the same as their parents, then
the same pattern of living and doing things will continue until the cycle
breaks. Only when a child chooses a different exit than their parents will he
or she have a different outcome.
Big Mom’s Advice
Big Mom counsels Robert Johnson by telling him
that he doesn’t need the guitar, “[he’s] supposed to be a harp player…all by
[himself]”(278). Big Mom told him that in order to reflect on his future. Big
Mom’s advice is good for anyone because individual’s need to let go of the past
and think of the future with no regrets. Big Mom also offers guidance to Father
Arnold. The key question she asks him is “[but] it is up to you, no matter
what, enit?” (279). This is the key
question because father Arnold nods his head, pulls his car keys out of his
pocket and stares into the road after Big Mom asks. Father Arnold’s nod and
stare towards the road gives a sense of understanding of the importance and
message that came within Big Mom’s question.
Chess Proposes
Chess proposes marriage to Thomas she says
“let’s get married…let’s have kids” (284). This suggests that being Indian is
important to Chess. This can be seen when she says “[l]ets have lots of brown
babies…I want my babies to look up and see two brown faces” (284). Chess has
expressed the importance of preserving her Indian blood in this chapter as well
as earlier chapters.
Junior’s
Return from the Dead
Junior’s return from the dead has impacted
Victor’s character in a big way. In the past, Victor was stubborn towards
Junior, refusing to admit his errors. Every time Junior talks to Victor, he
would always try to belittle him. This time however, Victor admits that he enjoys
being with Junior and throws out several flasks way, he tells Junior “ I don’t need
that no more”(290). Junior suggests Victor that he “should get [himself] a
goddamn job”(291). It appears that he has what it takes to get a job
considering how he handled the situation with WalksAlong, but he might have
some difficult along the way.
Thomas’s
Reaction to Betty and Veronica’s Success
Thomas was so angry at Betty and Veronica’s
songs because he was afraid that the songs he listened to would cause it to
steal some of his possessions. “He ran around the house, grabbing photos and
souvenirs, afraid that somebody was going to steal them next”(296). Betty and Veronica
copied Thomas ways of singing and stole his rhythm and now Thomas was afraid
someone was going to steal things that also mattered to him.
Victor’s
Resume
Victor’s “resume” on page 297 lacks format,
grammar, and audience. It’s funny that as old as he is, he thought that a
resume is needed to get a job in his reservation. The other thing I thought was
funny was that it looks like it’s his normal routine on the reservation with
his friend Junior. What’s sad is that most Indians on the reservation do not go
beyond high school because they have to work and help out their family and the
parents don’t really inspire them to become have a professional career.
Our
Review of Reservation Blues
The ending was satisfying to me because all of
the book’s themes came together as one. Alexie combined the “traditional
dancing in the Longhouse after [a] feast, while drunk Indians stood outside the
Trading Post…Robert Johnson and the-man-who-was-probably-Lakota played a
duet…Big Mom [on] her rocking chair…singing a protection song…”(306). Thomas,
Chess, and Checkers were leaving the reservation with shadow horses running
besides the van, singing, “we are alive, we’ll keep living”(306). Can’t forget
Victor, missing his friend Junior, he finally realized he needs to turn his
life around.
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