Wednesday, June 30, 2010
who is the indian killer?
In my opinion, like I expressed in class, is john. It never crossed my mind for a second that it was anyone else. When I was discussing this with some of you in class and you told me you thought it was someone else, I thought I was so smart because it was so clear for me from the beginning. Haha. But I quickly realized that it was never clear. I had unconsciously added details to the book that led me to believe he was with out a doubt the Indian Killer. Being someone who studies crime, I felt as though John fit all of the criteria. He came from a broken home, even though his adoptive parents were good to him and married, those weren’t his biological parents. He was mentally ill and refusing to take medicine. He kept to himself. He fantasized about killings. And I could never pin point his sexuality. Not that gay people are usually murders, but serial killers usually prey on people who are attractive to them. Thus the killer only killing men, I felt that John still was in the running for this position. If I am right and it was indeed John I think he stood for a lot more than just wanting to even up the score like we discussed in class. This would have been someone who needed to kill. Someone who may not have been able to function as well as he did in the world without so. He needed to keep the trophies so he could relive the killings until another opportunity approached him. I believe the first murder was someone with little importance, their background was not really exemplified and they were almost a stranger. This is usually how a serial killer begins their career. It is usually unplanned and sporadically done; but after that it becomes essential.
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I kinda went throught that same process of thinking at first it was John while reading the book. I think you made a good point by saying "I had unconsciously added details to the book that led me to believe he was with out a doubt the Indian Killer". I think that is what Alexie was aiming for, for us to unconsciouly think things to lead us to the killers identity. I have a tendency to look through things for hidden meanings, (this can be good and bad) to see if there is something implied that I might have missed. If I had not really looked for things that might lead to another killer I would have thought it was him also. It is good to know the information on serial killers, how they pick their victems and why. Hopefully, we never have a reason to have to figure out more.
ReplyDeleteI think that it could be John. What I believe could have happened is that John has a multiple personality disorder, and this causes him to act like a white man sometimes or other times like an Indian. When the Indian side takes over, I think that John becomes the Indian killer, and then doesn't remember what happened when his personalities change. The voices he hears could also be attributed to this, because it is his other personality trying to take over, which John hears as voices talking to him.
ReplyDeleteWhen i was reading this book i was always trying to figure out who the indian killer is. In the begining of the story i thought the indian killer was John. i thought it was john because he was an outcast and he didn't care how he was. He was always trying to find himself throughout the whole story. The story said that he had a mental illness that made it more clear that it was John. Then after the story is over i thought it could be any of the characters in the story or someone not in the story. He also could have left it up to the reader to make up their own indian killer.
ReplyDeleteThroughout the book, I always thought the killer was John. I still do think this, but until I got to class last Monday and someone pointed out that it never actually said it was John, I second guessed myself. I swore that it had to say in the novel somewhere that it was John. But, I do not believe that it does. I agree with you that this is the work of an early serial killer. I think the killer probably wanted a little bit more than just to even up the score. However, I do think that he wanted people to treat Native American's better, I think he wanted more than that. I mean most people trying to do the "right thing" wouldn't keep trophies of their kills!
ReplyDeleteTiffanee, the killer is definately John. He also was picking out antd looking through the different knives. Although the book keeps readers guessing by demonstrating different acts of prejudice, hate,and revenge, it is John that stands out to me. John also had violent streaks in school as he would go into the bathroom and terrorize the stall. the time at the doughnut shop was scary. He also was approached by Justin Summers on the street and called Chief and accused of being a drunk Indian. the representation of the owl as a ruthless and brutal killer was all around. I believe John let the boy go because he would imagine what life was like on the reservation with his mother. This showed a sympathetic side to him. Father Duncan surely had a great impact on his confused belief systems and this is why he would see and feel Duncan around just before striking or fantasizing.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the fact that I think John is the killer but I think Alexie does not even have a definite answer as to who the killer is. I think he left it open so the book could be taken in the direction the reader wanted to take it. I love that you have brought outside knowledge into the examination of John. The only part I somewhat disagree with is the part about his sexuality and the killing of men because maybe he way gay. Serial killers killing people they are attracted to I am sure is just a general trait and I am sure there are exceptions. Though he could be and his sexuality is never deciphered he does talk about the girls he dated in high school and it seemed to me that he was interested in Marie. I’m not saying I am right in the thought that John is not gay but that is just my opinion. Other than his sexuality I totally agree with the fact that John was the killer
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