In “A Drug Called Tradition,” Alexie writes longingly of a shared vision experienced by Victor, Junior, and Thomas-a vision attained after the three of them experiment with drugs at a local lake. “Everybody,” he continues, “in the book is drunk or in love with a drunk.” Throughout the text, the appearance of alcohol-or an alcoholic character-represents the cultural loss, longing, and pain that all of these characters experience each day alcohol represents a void that opportunity might have filled in, were opportunities for success, health, and happiness more readily available to the Indians of Alexie’s reservation. In the introduction, Alexie himself states that he was “vilified in certain circles for alcohol-soaked stories” when the collection debuted. In almost every story in The Lone Ranger and Tonto, Sherman Alexie engages directly with the common cultural stereotype-and devastating real-life epidemic-of Native Americans falling victim to alcoholism, or engaging in excessive drinking.
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