Jackson Jackson, who is of Native American descent, lost his home for reasons he doesn't want to share, but is actively trying to change his life. (Alexie 1433) The author, Sherman Alexie, who is also of Native American descent, put him in the story to show the passion and drive of the Native Americans. Since they were driven from their homes over the past hundreds of years, they now feel "invisible", not hated. Jackson goes on a quest to try to buy back his grandmother's regalia, which can be seen as a metaphor for him trying to get his life back together. Even though he still can't get the amount of money needed to buy it back, Jackson keeps trying. Jackson shares a philosophical theory with the father in "When the Emperor Was Divine" that "it is better to bend than to break." (Otsuka 78) What he means is that it is better to resist than to give up. For example, Jackson could have simply abandoned the pawn shop and not tried to buy back the regalia he knew were his grandmother's, but instead tried to buy them back. Even though he continued to spend the money he earned, he continued to work for more. (Alexie 1448) Although he earned more than one hundred and fifty dollars, Jackson spent it; food, alcohol and lottery tickets. Even with all these expenses, Jackson never gave up on his goal of buying back his grandmother's regalia. Additionally, Jackson refused to make excuses as to why he couldn't get the regalia. Even though for years Native Americans were considered "liars," he doesn't use that as an excuse to stop trying. (Alexie 1436) At no point in the story did Jackson act like he was of a different ethnicity or try to become a different person. Even when he ended up with the same amount of money he had at the start, he still returned to the pawn.

Essay / Jackson Jackson, who is of Native American descent, lost his home for reasons he doesn't want to share, but is actively trying to change his life. (Alexie 1433) The author, Sherman Alexie, who is also of Native American descent, put him in the story to show the passion and drive of the Native Americans. Since they were driven from their homes over the past hundreds of years, they now feel "invisible", not hated. Jackson goes on a quest to try to buy back his grandmother's regalia, which can be seen as a metaphor for him trying to get his life back together. Even though he still can't get the amount of money needed to buy it back, Jackson keeps trying. Jackson shares a philosophical theory with the father in "When the Emperor Was Divine" that "it is better to bend than to break." (Otsuka 78) What he means is that it is better to resist than to give up. For example, Jackson could have simply abandoned the pawn shop and not tried to buy back the regalia he knew were his grandmother's, but instead tried to buy them back. Even though he continued to spend the money he earned, he continued to work for more. (Alexie 1448) Although he earned more than one hundred and fifty dollars, Jackson spent it; food, alcohol and lottery tickets. Even with all these expenses, Jackson never gave up on his goal of buying back his grandmother's regalia. Additionally, Jackson refused to make excuses as to why he couldn't get the regalia. Even though for years Native Americans were considered "liars," he doesn't use that as an excuse to stop trying. (Alexie 1436) At no point in the story did Jackson act like he was of a different ethnicity or try to become a different person. Even when he ended up with the same amount of money he had at the start, he still returned to the pawn.

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