Alexie, Sherman. The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven. New York City: Grove Press, 1993. Print.
Coulombe, Joseph. “The Approximate Size of His Favorite Humor: Sherman Alexie’s Comic Connections and Disconnections in The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven” American Indian Quarterly 26 (winter 2002) : p. 94-115. Project Muse. Ohio University Lib. Athens, OH.

Summary/Part I

In Joseph L. Coulombe’s essay “The Approximate Size of His Favorite Humor,” he discusses the numerous ways Sherman Alexie uses humor as a tool both positively and negatively throughout his book of short stories called The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven. Coulombe introduces Alexie through the ruthless critiques made by other writers about his warp into focusing on the stereotypes of Indians. They harshly criticize him for deserting his own background through the use of his satirical tone toward people of his ethnicity and not giving people the “correct” impression of Indians. Coulombe quickly reinforces Alexie’s different types of humor by explaining many roles it has played throughout certain stories. Coulombe emphasizes humor as a linking device for all people regardless of culture or background. He insists that Alexie’s humor is not holistically about white versus Indians, but proving that everyone has things in their culture that they need to laugh about in order to cope. He continues on that humor is a way to muddle through the hard times which he examines thoroughly in the short story “The Approximate Size of His Favorite Tumor.” Coulombe allows us to view Alexie’s humor as an unconventional way to disguise the harsh reality of the world and just bond with others regardless of race, wealth, or culture. Alexie also uses humor to reveal truths about society that no one really wants to face. By costuming these truths with laughter Coulombe notes, we are able to see these truths with fresh eyes. Coulombe proves that these humors are what link us to Alexie’s stories.

Application/ Part II

The types of humor that Sherman Alexie uses in The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven are what drew me into his stories. Coulombe focuses on these humors as Alexie intertwines them with each story. Alexie’s main humors I will focus on are his satirical humor in order to expose the realities that society doesn’t like to face as well as the humor as laughter that connects us and allows us to relate with one another in a way words cannot.

The satirical tone and humor used throughout Alexie’s collection of short stories is what reveals honesty where it is ordinarily hidden. In “Because My Father Always Said He Was the Only Indian Who Saw Jimi Hendrix Play ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’ At Woodstock” there are references masked by humor that expose racial discrimination. After Victor’s father was captured in a photograph beating up a National Guard at Woodstock news headlines read “One Warrior Against War and Peaceful Gathering Turns Into Native Uprising” immediately directing the “savage-like” action to Victor’s father’s race (25). Even at his trial Alexie claims “it was a high-profile case so my father was used as an example” further implementing the idea that the same benefits were just not given to those of other-than-white races (25). However, in this story Alexie’s character Victor paints a pretty amusing picture of his father knocking out this private. Alexie uses this humor “to reveal injustice” states Coulombe (94). In Alexie’s story “This is What it Means to Say Phoenix, Arizona” he also reveals the lack of support the Tribal Council has for Victor and his father. In Victor’s heritage burial rites are sacred, enough so that the Tribal Council will give money to those who wish to bring back their loved ones for proper burials. However, in this story when Victor wishes to retrieve his father’s remains the Tribal Council stiffs him gives him a fraction of what he needs to go get his cremated father. This is an important example because in Coulombe’s essay he notes that Alexie is criticized for not displaying the Indian culture fairly but Alexie makes numerous attempts to emphasize that no culture is perfect and that everyone should be embarrassed about choices that their cultures have made.

Humor also takes on a lighter tone in Alexie’s short stories. Humor allows us to connect to Alexie’s characters and look at their stories with blank slates. Humor also allows characters to connect to one another giving laughter a certain power throughout the story. In the story “This is What it Means to Say Phoenix, Arizona,” Victor has not talked to Thomas Builds-the-fire in ages. He was always annoyed by his stories and let that annoyance overpower the fun times they had. When Thomas helped Victor out and traveled to Arizona with him Victor was thoroughly embarrassed by all of the questions Thomas was asking someone near them on their flight. It was the laughter, however that made the flight go smoothly. “They all laughed,” Alexie stated and “the three of them talked for the duration of the flight” (66-7). This simple act of laughter allowed these characters to rekindle an old friendship which is one of the positive aspects Alexie brings out of his Indian culture. The story “The Approximate Size of His Favorite Tumor” is also one that incorporates laughter as the link or connector between characters. In this story when Norma and Jimmy first meet it is because Norma’s attention is caught by Jimmy’s laughter. As Coulombe stated “humor brought them together” which allowed for a very personal moment for these two characters (106). The even more intriguing concept is that laughter kept them together. While Norma could have easily walked away after inquiring about Jimmy’s laughter, they then share their own moment that no one else in the bar understood. “We laughed” Jimmy stated as he looked back on their inside joke that led them to one another (160). Laughter undoubtedly connects these characters and demands they take an extra second to just laugh and reflect on the situation they are in. Laughter unites, as Coulombe states, “two like- minded people within an environment that otherwise might exclude them” (107). Laughter rekindles the friendship, even if temporarily, between Thomas and Victor and it also brings love between Jimmy and Norma. Laughter is the type of humor that allows us to let down our guard and relate to the story, one of Alexie’s main goals.