The Cultural Collision in Sherman Alexie's "Every Little Hurricane"

What causes the storm in "Every Little Hurricane" from Sherman Alexie's "The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven"?

What two things collide and cause the storm?

Answer:

In Sherman Alexie's "The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven," the collision of "high-pressure" and "low-pressure" fronts, as described by Victor, causes the storm in "Every Little Hurricane."

The cultural collision between Native American traditions and white American culture is portrayed as a metaphor for the storm that occurs in "Every Little Hurricane" from Sherman Alexie's collection of stories. The two fronts, "high-pressure" and "low-pressure," signify the external pressures and personal struggles faced by the characters.

The "high-pressure" front represents the systemic oppression and external challenges that the characters, who are Native Americans living on a reservation, experience. This includes discrimination, poverty, and loss of cultural identity. On the other hand, the "low-pressure" front symbolizes their internal conflicts and personal struggles with each other, such as family dynamics, substance abuse, and generational trauma.

The collision of these two fronts leads to a destructive and chaotic storm, both literally and metaphorically. The violent physical storm mirrors the emotional turmoil experienced by the characters as they try to navigate their cultural heritage and personal relationships in a hostile environment. This collision highlights the complexity of their identities and the challenges they face in understanding and preserving their heritage while adapting to the dominant white American culture.

In essence, "Every Little Hurricane" serves as a powerful portrayal of the cultural clash and its impact on the characters, showcasing the resilience and struggles of Native Americans in contemporary society.