Characters

The main characters of the short story “This Is What It Means to Say Phoenix, Arizona” by Sherman Alexie are Victor and Thomas Builds-the-Fire. Victor is a Native American young man whose father left the family when Victor was most likely a teenager. At the time of the narrative, Victor learns about his estranged father’s death and turns to Thomas, one of his former friends, for help.

Thomas Builds-the-Fire is a Native American young man who lives on the same reservation as Victor. Although the two used to be close when they were children, their relationship deteriorated as they grew up. Victor and Thomas reconnect on the journey toward Phoenix, Arizona, where Victor has to go to collect the remains of his father and bring them home.

You can read a detailed characterization of Victor and Thomas Builds-the-Fire on the following pages.