Reservation Blues

by

Sherman Alexie

The-man-who-was-probably-Lakota Character Analysis

An Indian man, not from the Spokane tribe, who spends all day standing outside the reservation’s Trading Post, a much-frequented convenience store, announcing to whoever passes by that the end of the world is near. He is also the second best fry bread cook on the reservation, after Big Mom and before Bessie.
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The-man-who-was-probably-Lakota Character Timeline in Reservation Blues

The timeline below shows where the character The-man-who-was-probably-Lakota appears in Reservation Blues. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 1
Race, Culture, and Identity Theme Icon
Hope, Despair, and the Blues Theme Icon
Alcoholism and Patterns of Suffering Theme Icon
Community, Friendship, and Love Theme Icon
Thomas talks to the-man-who-was-probably-Lakota, a man who spends all day outside the reservation’s Trading Post. The man tells Thomas... (full context)
Hope, Despair, and the Blues Theme Icon
Alcoholism and Patterns of Suffering Theme Icon
Storytelling, History, and the Spiritual Theme Icon
...plays the song about falling to pieces. It is good, silencing the two bullies, and the-man-who-was-probably-Lakota interrupts to tell them that the end of the world is near. By now, Junior... (full context)
Chapter 2
Race, Culture, and Identity Theme Icon
Hope, Despair, and the Blues Theme Icon
Storytelling, History, and the Spiritual Theme Icon
Community, Friendship, and Love Theme Icon
...fry bread-cooking contest for the past 37 years, descending from her mountain to cook, and The-Man-who-was-probably-Lakota usually came in second. Fry bread was a part of young Indian romances, and a... (full context)
Chapter 4
Hope, Despair, and the Blues Theme Icon
Alcoholism and Patterns of Suffering Theme Icon
At six in the morning the man-who-was-probably-Lakota begins to chant that the end of the world is near, as he always does.... (full context)
Chapter 6
Race, Culture, and Identity Theme Icon
Hope, Despair, and the Blues Theme Icon
Alcoholism and Patterns of Suffering Theme Icon
Community, Friendship, and Love Theme Icon
...to cheer him on. Betty and Veronica try to intervene and are knocked back. Suddenly the-man-who-was-probably-Lakota steps up and knocks the raging White Hawk out with a two-by-four. (full context)
Race, Culture, and Identity Theme Icon
Hope, Despair, and the Blues Theme Icon
Alcoholism and Patterns of Suffering Theme Icon
Community, Friendship, and Love Theme Icon
...they “cause trouble.” At their most desperate moment, a Cadillac appears on the reservation, asking the-man-who-was-probably-Lakota to get in the car and lead them to Coyote Springs. He runs along in... (full context)
Chapter 10
Race, Culture, and Identity Theme Icon
Hope, Despair, and the Blues Theme Icon
Alcoholism and Patterns of Suffering Theme Icon
Community, Friendship, and Love Theme Icon
Robert Johnson is walking through town when he sees the-man-who-was-probably-Lakota. They walk together toward the Longhouse. Thomas is amazed when Johnson arrives—he looks like a... (full context)