"Class" Analysis

        The short story “Class” in The Toughest Indian in the World is a personal narrative by the character of Edgar Eagle Runner. Throughout the short story Edgar describes the period of his life in which he first met his wife and the proceeding years and events after their marriage. The motif emitted through the short story is that of sexuality. It is omnipresent through the text. The constant presence of the concept of sexuality, relating to women and intercourse, sheds light on his self-identity issues, and pride.

Through the various encounters he has with women, and his articulation of such, Edgar implicitly highlights the effect self-identity issues play on his life and how they impact his everyday decisions. Such can be seen when he says “As for me, I’d told any number of white women that I was part Aztec and I’d told a few that I was completely Aztec. That gave me some mystery, some ethnic weight, a history of glorious color and mass executions” (Alexie, 40).  The concept is also present when Sissy states “But we live in this world and you live in your world…Do you know how much I want to live in your world” (Alexie, 55).  The passages demonstrates how Edgar struggles to identify himself with a cultural belief, due to him having Native American blood yet residing and practicing an Anglo life style. Edgar struggles to come to terms with the inherent implications each culture carries; he fails to comprehend the roles each culture wants him to develop and ends up failing to fulfill both. Through what is perceived as a voracious sexuality and a great sense of pride Edgar wishes to hide his self-conflict and need to belong. The aforementioned psychological impact and issue with self-identity communicate to the audience Edgar’s personality and values, helping to comprehend further actions in the story.