How Alexie's Personal Story Contributes to "What You Pawn I Will Redeem"

• Different tribes of Indians are mentioned throughout: Spokane, Yakama, Aleuts, Duwamish, Crow. Alexie’s personal knowledge allows him to remark on various stereotypes and trademarks of all kinds of Native Americans. He also shows how Native American’s emphasize their tribes, but still have a bond and consider each other “cousins” (Alexie 1513).
• His knowledge of Native American culture educates the reader on facts like: “Because they don’t want to be perfect, because only God is perfect, Indian people sew flaws into their powwow regalia” (Alexie 1507).
• His own insight into Native American mentalities, lifestyles, problems, and history lets him create a developed character in Jackson. Jackson is not just a stereotype, but instead a thought provoking narrator who captivates the reader.
• Alexie also had a drinking problem early in his life which forced him to drop out of his first college. This personal detail enables him to add the right amount of sympathy and also reality to Jackson’s alcoholism.