The Relationship between Storytelling and Storyteller in Sherman Alexie's "The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven" Brandon Zachary Haynes

Sherman Alexie composed “The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven” as a series of digressions that shed light on the inner demons of the narrator. The story clearly demonstrates elements of Native American folklore, which are appropriate for both Alexie and the narrator. The method of storytelling gives us a glimpse into the life of the narrator and allows us to see the world through his eyes, a world whose heavy weight is carried on his shoulders.

Whether in Seattle or Spokane, the narrator always feels out of place. The narrator grew up on an Indian reservation and eventually left because of his aspirations. He explains, “I was special, a former college student, a smart kid. I was one of those Indians who was supposed to make it, to rise above the rest of the reservation like a fucking eagle or something. I was the new kind of warrior” (18). Ultimately he finds no happiness out in this new world as he resorts to alcohol and violence to cope with his feelings of displacement; “And I always had crazy dreams. I always have had them, but it seemed they became nightmares more often in Seattle” (17). He returns to his reservation, quits drinking and eventually finds a steady job. However, he still is uneasy with life as he “…...