Thursday, February 2, 2017

"Class": The Battle of Accepting Your Race or Running Away From It

     In the short story Class by Sherman Alexie, it's about a young man named Edgar Joseph who is Native American and White. He tends to dislike his Native American side, that he only looks his interest in the white personal. He has the title of a lawyer with the nice house, nice car, and beautiful white wife. But later in the story he tends to find himself lost in what he really is or what he wants to become. So he tries to go back to his "roots" one night. But it turned into a brutal mistake. Which guides him back to the life he is very much proud of. Being in love with the Caucasian culture. In this story there are many different factors that bodies this story. But the main factors are: ethnicity, race, and class.

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       Ethnicity, Edgar found his wife at a party he attended and she was drunk at the time. However, seven months later they are tying the knot. Sounds wonderful? Not exactly. Susan; Edgar's wife; immediate family never liked Edgar. They believed he wasn't right for her. Not for his personality, but for his complexion. Something that can't define us as human but yet Susan's family was very upset with her choice of a husband. Nevertheless Edgar's mother was thriller that he would be marrying a white women just because the Indian in their family will slowly vanish till there is no more. Now is that justified or a hate to your our race? There's always been a point in life that everyone says, "Oh, I wish I could be like them. Or I wish I could be able to do this." Hey I even said when I was younger. But I learned to overcome it and be the best that a young, black women can be. However, can you really blame Edgar for what he is feeling if he's mother is enforcing this too?
       Race kind of goes hand and hand with ethnicity. However, when Edgar visit an Native American pub named Chuck's. He got into an altercation with another Native American named Junior. He didn't like once he walked in just from Edgar's choice of dressing. Even Edgar states, "I looked down and saw my denim jacket and polo shirt, the khakis and brown leather loafers. I looked like a Gap ad." Long story short, Junior felt that his life is much better and he's too good for the Native American culture. He felt that he is a sell out for leaving his race for the other half of him. 
       Lastly class, even though Edgar is a lawyer his wife does make double than him. In the story he actually finds out that his wife is cheating on him after their first anniversary. Nevertheless he does nothing. How could someone know that their mate is having an affair and just be fine with it? In my opinion I think it's because he's scared that if he says something she might leave him. And then where is he left now? He is broke since he wanted to show out for his wedding by paying for everything, and now he is broke. But should that justify the reason to not bring an affair to light? 

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       But in my opinion, I believe we should embrace what we are and who we will become with our background. Always remember where you came from, and never forget where you're going.


4 comments:

  1. I agree that the main reason that Edgar probably didn't bring the affair to light is because he thinks that she will leave him. Knowing that her family already doesn't really support the marriage, he feels like if he does the wrong thing, she will side with them and leave him. Edgar should have said something about it because if he doesn't, who is not to say that she won't keep doing it. Not to mention, it is never okay to cheat on someone that you made legal rights to spend your life with. As a man, Edgar should have handled the situation as such, but he didn't.

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  2. I was also shocked when the mother wanted her son to marry a white woman to slowly dilute the blood line. Especially with the rich culture behind being an American Indian, culture is not anything we should shame each other for. People should be prideful of their origins, and work to carry on through generations.

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  3. I was shocked to see how Edward sealed with the way his wife cheated on him. Instead he decides to cheat on her instead. Not to mention, that he wanted to explore his heritage by hiring a hooker. I feel like the people in this story have mental issues or maybe its just me. I think what Edward should do instead is talk to his wife or divorce her.

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  4. Reading that short story didn't shock me at all . I feel like people go through things like that on a day to day basis. Everything in life is about race, ethnicity,and power. But if I was Edgar I wouldn't give a damn about what people have to say about me. If his wife family don't like him then say "F" them. And as far as the wedding goes if she is making twice than you why the hell are you spending all your hard earned money on a two man wedding. A wedding is about you to coming together as one which you both should have been paying for that wedding.

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