An Analysis Of Sherman Alexie s Flight, The Joy Luck...

Although the books Flight, The Joy Luck Club, and The Glass Castle all have different storylines, they have a common theme. Throughout each book, the characters all experience some sort of shame whether it s from one s appearance to the way one lives. In Flight, Sherman Alexie introduces the reader to a boy who is so ashamed of his appearance that he gives himself the nickname Zits. In The Joy Luck Club, Amy Tan shares with the reader a story about the struggle of the mother-daughter relationship between four families and the shame the daughters have for not becoming who their mothers would like them to be. In The Glass Castle, Jeannette Walls tells the reader about her alcoholic father and the shame he carries for not being able to provide for his family because of his addiction. The shame in these three books has an important impact on the characters lives and makes them the way they are. In Flight by Sherman Alexie, the author begins by introducing the reader to Zits. â€Å"Call me Zits. Everybody calls me Zits. That s not my real name, of course. My real name isn t important. (1)† This immediately leads the reader to believe that Zits is shameful of his own appearance. Not only does the main character give himself that nickname but he also makes fun of himself, â€Å"Back zits for sale! Back zits for sale! Yes,you can purchase the rights to name on on my back pimples... (4)† The way the main character makes fun of himself allows the reader to more fully understand that