The short story “Superman and me” by Sherman Alexie depicts his life as an Indian boy residing on the Spokane Indian Reserve in eastern Washington State and the profound impact that reading and writing had on him. Within this narrative, Alexie recounts the young Indian boy’s deep interest in literature, his intellectual capabilities as an Indian, and his progression into a creative writing instructor for fellow Indian children.
Sherman Alexie’s initial encounter with literature occured when he discovered a book owned by his father. Despite not comprehending the words, he grasped the notion of a paragraph and likened it to “a fence that held words.” This narrative explores the narrator’s experience as a Native American child who was anticipated to falter: “We were Indian children who were expected to be stupid. Most lived up to those expectations.” Nonetheless, Sherman Alexie defiantly refused to succumb to failure.
Alexie was highly intelligent and had a passion for reading, devouring any material he could find whenever the opportunity arose. The phrase “I was trying to save my life” exemplifies Alexie’s drive for knowledge and accomplishments. Currently, Alexie teaches creative writing skills to Indigenous children, describing them as individuals who are also striving to “save their lives.” It can be assumed that Alexie chose teaching as a profession to extend this effort of “saving” to all Indian people residing in the eastern Indian reserve by introducing them to literature.
