Identify the central theme of The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven and write an essay arguing for the point. You will need to make references to at least three stories to properly convince the reader that your idea is relevant for the entire collection.
Basically; what are the stories trying to say and why do you think so?
Remember, the reader is not interested in what happens in the story, but why it happens. Of course, you need to remind them about what happens, but it’s not necessary to explain in detail.
Remember: The theme cannot be a single word or phrase, like ‘family’, ‘tradition’, or ‘alcoholism’. In the first paragraph you have to specify what the story is trying to say about something. For example: “Alcoholism is a symptom of the Indian’s disenfranchisement” or “The only people who break away from their past are those who choose to change”.
Also: We are not interested in your opinion. The goal is to analyse the text, not to say what you think about the text.
Some examples to think further on:
– Personal relationships are affected by external factors. The people in the stories are explicitly and implicitly affected by their roles as members of a minority group. Explore how personal relationships are affected by life as a Native American in the USA.
– The parent determines the life of the child. The relationship between parent and child is ever present in the stories you have read. Explore how the actions of parents mold the personality and actions of children.
– Change comes from within. The stories present a people who has been treated very poorly over a very long period of time. Explore how the characters in the story are affected by this fact, and how they choose to relate to it.
