Fligth Patterns

Flight Patterns by Sherman Alexie, tells the story of William, a Spokane Indian and traveling salesman who feels guilty about leaving his wife and young daughter behind while he travels. During the preparations for this trip, William encounters a talkative taxi driver and the two share stories of family, hope, fear, and truth. In the end, the men find common ground because of their experiences, shared laughs at dark jokes, and William resolves to follow his heart. There is however, a hidden message in the story. The author intertwines subtle uses and importance of ceremony and certain stereotypical thoughts throughout the account. The main characters are William, a proud Spokane Indian, and Fedaku, an Ethiopian who defected from his own country over 30 years before. Alexie used cultures that are well known for having and following certain customs. While there is a modern day twist to the actions themselves, the ceremonies are clearly seen throughout the story.

From the beginning of the story, Alexie portrays William as someone who follows certain personal rituals. For example, Alexie writes that, William was “an Indian who didn’t smoke or drink or eat processed sugar. He lifted weights three days a week, ran every day, and competed in four triathlons a year.” William believed that, “A triathlon was a religious quest.” (Alexie, 49) This thought process sets the stage for Williams’ actions and beliefs throughout the story. During the taxi ride, when Fedaku begins his tale, he starts by asking William’s name. Fedaku goes on to say, “William, my name is Fedaku. I am Oromo and Muslim, and I come from Addis Ababa in Ethiopia, and I want you to su-num-twee (listen to me).” Alexie writes Williams thoughts as, “There was nothing more important than a person’s name and the names of his clan, tribe, city, religion, and country. By the social rules of his tribe, William should have reciprocated and officially identified himself.” (58) Later, when Fedaku begins telling his story William asks if he fought against the leader in Ethiopia. Alexie writes it as, “Fedaku breathed in so deeply that William recognized it as a religious moment, as the first act of a ceremony, and with the second act, an exhalation, the ceremony truly began.” (59) At the end of the ride, William, “didn’t know how this ceremony was supposed to end. He felt small and powerless against the collected history.” (60) And at the end, once William has heard the story of Fedaku, he once again completes a ceremony by finding a pay phone and calling his wife to tell her he has arrived at the airport. Alexie writes ceremony as an important aspect, while not fully explaining the details surrounding each individual act. While one could see the logic in the importance of proper introductions, there is no clear definition of the ceremony surrounding Fedaku’s story. The tragedy of the heroic nature of his actions are obvious, however, Alexie chooses to leave out the details of what the ceremony entails. The use of ceremony is not the only effect Alexie uses to get into the mindset of the character. He has also intertwined preconceived notions or thoughts throughout