Homosexuality is like suicide. In the literary sense, I mean. Think about it. If you are reading a novel or short story and the main character just happens to off himself without foreshadowing, reason, or resultant purpose then it can safely be assumed that what you are reading is not very good. This is the case with the short story “Toughest Indian in the World,” except substitute homosexuality for suicide and you get the idea. Lisa Tatonetti claims that homosexuality is a useful literary tool for illustrating character development, and I could not agree more. I just happen to disagree with her argument that Sherman Alexie is any good at using that tool (specifically in his short story “Toughest Indian in the World”). However, in contemporary analysis of the use of “controversial” themes such as homosexuality, critics like Tatonetti and Julie Bolt - and Alexie himself - dare you to criticize the work. Bolt, and Alexie, assert that if you criticize it then you are a homophobe. I assert that the problem is not with the homosexuality, it is how it is used; poorly, cheaply, etc. So I will criticize, not because I am a homophobe, but because if I do not criticize, then I am fearfully endorsing awful literature.
Tatonetti posits that homosexuality - amongst other “queer” identities - have suffered in literature, especially Native American literature; “…critical investigations of this important body of literature are just now finding representation in scholarly forums on American Indian literature” (Tatonetti 35.2). Her brief analysis of recent queer Native American texts successfully illustrates how the “Toughest Indian” might come to be championed by those who wish to find important and significant queer identities in Native American literature. She then posits that homosexual identities are good vehicles to explore character transformation, and to this I agree. She also concludes that Sherman Alexie’s homosexuality constructs in “Toughest Indian” are productive and successful ones; “I argue that the narrator's queer relationship to the fighter is situated as an avenue of transformation” (Tatonetti 35.2) While I can endorse her initial positions, I cannot disagree more with her conclusion. Her intention with this last quote is to argue that the homosexuality in “Toughest Indian” was used productively, however her reasons she offers in support of this claim mainly are derivatives of her first quote decrying the lack of queer identities.
Table of Contents
1. The Preemptive Straw Man
1.1 Critiquing the Literary Use of Homosexuality
1.2 Analysis of Queer Identities in Native American Literature
1.3 Narrative Failure and Lack of Foreshadowing
1.4 The Intersection of Identity and Urbanized Native Life
1.5 Institutionalized Defense of the Text
1.6 Conclusion on Literary Merit
Objectives and Core Themes
The primary objective of this critical essay is to evaluate the literary effectiveness of Sherman Alexie's short story "Toughest Indian in the World," specifically focusing on how the author utilizes homosexuality as a narrative device. The author argues that while queer identities are valid and important in literature, Alexie fails to provide the necessary structural build-up and psychological depth, rendering the inclusion of these themes contrived and unsuccessful.
- The intersection of queer identity and Native American literary representation.
- Critique of literary craftsmanship and the necessity of narrative foreshadowing.
- The role of "controversial" themes in contemporary literary discourse.
- The distinction between an author's intent and the actual execution of complex character transformation.
- The intellectual impact of shielding literature from critical scrutiny through accusations of homophobia.
Excerpt from the Book
The Preemptive Straw Man
Homosexuality is like suicide. In the literary sense, I mean. Think about it. If you are reading a novel or short story and the main character just happens to off himself without foreshadowing, reason, or resultant purpose then it can safely be assumed that what you are reading is not very good. This is the case with the short story “Toughest Indian in the World,” except substitute homosexuality for suicide and you get the idea. Lisa Tatonetti claims that homosexuality is a useful literary tool for illustrating character development, and I could not agree more. I just happen to disagree with her argument that Sherman Alexie is any good at using that tool (specifically in his short story “Toughest Indian in the World”). However, in contemporary analysis of the use of “controversial” themes such as homosexuality, critics like Tatonetti and Julie Bolt - and Alexie himself - dare you to criticize the work. Bolt, and Alexie, assert that if you criticize it then you are a homophobe. I assert that the problem is not with the homosexuality, it is how it is used; poorly, cheaply, etc. So I will criticize, not because I am a homophobe - I have a gay uncle, does that exclude me from being one? - but because if I do not criticize, then I am fearfully endorsing awful literature.
Summary of Chapters
1. The Preemptive Straw Man: This chapter introduces the central critique, challenging the narrative construction of homosexuality in Alexie's work and arguing that the author fails to provide sufficient character development.
Keywords
Sherman Alexie, Toughest Indian in the World, Homosexuality, Literary Criticism, Native American Literature, Queer Identities, Narrative Structure, Character Development, Lisa Tatonetti, Julie Bolt, Literary Merit, Foreshadowing, Identity Politics, Stereotypes, Representation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the central focus of this essay?
The essay provides a critical analysis of Sherman Alexie’s short story "Toughest Indian in the World," arguing that the author uses homosexuality as a literary device without sufficient narrative justification or development.
What are the primary themes discussed?
The primary themes include the representation of queer identities in Native American literature, the mechanics of successful character transformation, and the tendency of critics to use accusations of homophobia to stifle literary debate.
What is the author's main research argument?
The author argues that while homosexuality is a valid and potentially powerful narrative tool, its inclusion in this specific short story is poorly executed, contrived, and detrimental to the narrative flow.
Which critical method is applied in this critique?
The author employs a close reading technique, analyzing sentence structure, narrative foreshadowing, and the internal logic of character actions to assess the quality of the literary work.
What does the main body of the text address?
The main body examines the lack of evidence for the protagonist's internal struggle, the symbolic use of salmon as a poorly constructed climax, and a rebuttal of existing scholarly interpretations by Tatonetti and Bolt.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
Key terms include Literary Criticism, Homosexuality, Narrative Structure, Native American Literature, and Character Development.
How does the author interpret the relationship between the Narrator and the hitchhiker?
The author views this encounter as perplexing and contrived, arguing that the sudden sexual interaction lacks the psychological build-up or foreshadowing required to make it a convincing vehicle for character transformation.
What is the author's perspective on the scholarly discourse surrounding this story?
The author criticizes scholars like Tatonetti and Bolt for creating an environment where any critique of the story is dismissed as homophobic, thereby preventing a more nuanced discussion of the story's actual literary failures.
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- Michael Knabel (Autor:in), 2010, The Preemptive Straw Man - A Critique of Sherman Alexie's "Toughest Indian in the World"., München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/153077
