Assimilation and A Plague of Tics discussion

Assimilation

In the short story, “Assimilation,” Sherman Alexie refers to many people and places as well as cultural references. It requires understanding of the references in order to understand their meaning in the story. Thus, the significance of the references is very important in understanding the story as well. In the beginning, he refers to Shakespeare and Sitting Bull, saying that they only knew a truth that treaties get broken at one time. Sitting Bull was an Indian in America who relentlessly fought the white man from taking their land. He became an Indian leader and signed the “Treaty of Fort Laramie” allowing them to remain in the land. However, when gold was discovered in their land, the white man returned to claim the land. Thus, the treaty was broken. The significance of this reference is to show that treaties can get broken, just like the marriage of Mary Lynn and Jeremiah. Lynn wants to have sex outside their marriage.

Shakespeare was a play writer of the sixteenth century and wrote many issues on treaties and their breaking. He also knew that treaties get broken. Lynn was rebelling, trying something different and seeking to be free. In his works, there are many treaties such as the marriage treaty. Thus, the use of Shakespeare serves to illustrate the theme of infidelity and betrayal.

Belgium has also been used as a reference in the story to illustrate neutral character of white men. Belgium was a neutral country during the world war two. This was unlike other European countries that took up sides in the war. Thus, it never had anything extra or exciting to offer. Its reference in this story shows that white men have nothing extra ordinary to offer women. Thus, they are neutral, neither inclined to one side. Something that is neutral can become boring at times. Thus, probably Lynn was bored with her husband because he had nothing more to offer that could excite her sexually.

Hamlet is another reference used in the story. Hamlet is a play by Shakespeare about Hamlet the prince who contemplated so many times about killing his father’s murderer to avenge his death. Hamlet was a much-undecided person and most of the time was indecisive. The story is used to show the edited play Lynn’s son was playing in, where Jeremiah went in to help his son drag the body of Polonius. Additionally, hamlet can be used in the story to relate to Lynn, who never knew what she wanted. Three times, she turned down lesbian women who approached her, but at a grocery store when she saw a woman in a white t-shirt and blue pants she starts to get feelings. She feels like she would knock her down so that she can do beautiful things to her.

Willy Loman is a character in a 1949 play written by Arthur Miller. Willy is a salesperson and believes that being nice to people one is liked. Willy was a serious case of self-deception and he never realized due to inappropriate goals in life despite having a potential. His goal in life is to be liked and having material success. However, his dream does not come true, a fact that hits him hard to even request for guidance from the successful people. Willy not only deceives himself, but also deceives his family. Thus, when in the story Lynn talks about Willy Lomans of the 21^st century, he refers to the men watching pornography, suggesting they deserve better than this. She suggested that the men watching the pornographic movie were deceiving themselves, and deserved better than that.

A Plague of Tics

The short story, “A Plague of Tics,” is a humorous story written by Davis Sedaris. He writes about his childhood behaviors triggered by Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, OCD. The experiences do not trigger humor considering it is a condition one feels compassionate. However, through his detailed description and specific language makes the story humorous. In one passage, he talks about the urge of getting home as his biggest urge. However, getting there is the main problem. As one would expect that he would be quick to get home, he has to count all the steps he makes on his way. Additionally, he had to touch and lick some objects he finds on the way, and making sure to know he touched it at what step. Missing to count any step meant going back again.

He achieves humor in this passage through vivid and detailed description of what he is thinking when he wants to do something. What make the passage funny are the tics, or urges he has to do. If he does not do them, he will keep thinking about them until he has done them. Licking switches is quite absurd. More absurd is wondering whether he touched the pole at the right spot, or whether he had licked a garden ornament enough at his two hundred and nineteenth step.

In another passage from the story, Sedaris talks about how his father steps on the break when he finds him moving towards his target. He hits his nose on and starts bleeding. What makes it funny is saying that he loved it, and describing a smash on the nose with the right pressure as a positive narcotic pain. He says that doing things he had an urge for were satisfying to the brain but involved a lot of activity. Thus, to avoid the activities he finds out that hitting the nose was one way. What makes the passage funny is use of absurdity, and specific language such as positively narcotic to suggest the smash was pleasurable and satisfying, while every one would expect it to be painful. More so, he finds that pushing against his nose helps satisfy some of the mental urges. This is quite unexpected as a behavior, making it quite humorous. He uses a straightforward style of writing that is easy to understand and attracts many fans or readers. He uses easy to understand language that avoids complication so that everybody can understand. With out understanding a text, one cannot understand the joke. Therefore, lesser complicated language and wording ensures that no one will fail to understand the joke and intention of the writer.

The author uses timing to achieve more humor, knowing when and where to put the punch line. For instance, he tells of finding a way of fulfilling the urges using the body instead of running up and down the stairs, before he put in the punch line. The punch line is punching him self in the nose. The reader is eager to know the new method of dealing with the urges. Moreover, this is after he talks about the urges and way he satisfies the same. Thus, he times when the reader would be more interested in such punch line.