“What You Pawn, I Will Buy Back” by Sherman Alexie is a short story centered on a homeless American Indian, Jackson Jackson. The story chronicles Jackson's journey to buy back his grandmother's regalia from the pawn shop they were sold to more than 50 years ago. The title is appropriate for the short story. Someone stole his grandmother's dress and now Jackson is on a mission to get it back. As a narrator, Jackson uses a variety of tones such as optimism, depression, and sometimes even sarcasm. The central theme is that of a man struggling to give meaning to his life. Despite the circumstances, in the case of Jackson's homelessness, there is always hope. The story takes place in the city of Spokane, Washington. Jackson gives the reader a sense of his family's history when he states, "...my people have lived within a hundred miles of Spokane, Washington, for at least ten thousand years." Jackson uses direct characterization to describe himself. In the second paragraph, Jackson states: "I grew up in Spokane, moved to Seattle twenty-three years ago for college, failed after two semesters, worked various jobs blue-collar and blue-collar, I married two or three times, I fathered two or three times. three kids, then I went crazy. This implies that Jackson was not always homeless. He is educated and at one point led a normal life. As time passed, Jackson began to fade and lose his value. Jackson isn't sure of the cause but says, "piece by piece, I disappeared." Since then, I have disappeared. » Jackson has a very honest attitude when expressing his thoughts and feelings. Jackson may be homeless, but he's not alone. He roams the streets of Spokane with his "crew", Junior and Sharon. In the fifth paragraph, Jackson describes their relationship when, say... middle of paper ......ker tells him to take the regalia. Jackson was a little saddened because he wanted to "win" it. The pawnbroker says, “You earned it. Now take it before I change my mind. Jackson took the regalia. For a brief moment, Jackson's homeless status didn't exist. Nothing existed except him and his grandmother. He detached himself from his reality, wrapped himself in his grandmother's regalia and inhaled her. He finally found a part of himself. Throughout the story, readers sympathize with Jackson. Alexie's familiar syntax and direct approach make readers feel connected and understanding toward Jackson and his situation. Jackson buys back his grandmother's regalia. He was the “hero”. The story doesn't specify whether this adventure led to Jackson finding himself, but it gave readers a sense of hope through kind gestures and perseverance...