What You Pawn I Will Redeem
Introduction + Context
Plot Summary
Detailed Summary & Analysis
Noon 1:00 P.M. 2:00 P.M. 3:00 P.M. 4:00 P.M. 5:00 P.M. 6:00 P.M. 7:00 P.M. 8:00 P.M. 9:00 P.M. 10:00 P.M. Midnight 2:00 A.M. 4:00 A.M. 6:00 A.M. 8:00 A.M. 10:00 A.M. 11:00 A.M.
Themes
All Themes Native American Culture and Identity Money, Capitalism, and Morality Racism and Colonialism Death and Grief
Quotes
Characters
All Characters Jackson Jackson Agnes The Pawnbroker The Aleut Cousins Officer Williams Junior Rose of Sharon Big Boss
Symbols
All Symbols The Powwow Regalia The Five-Dollar Bills
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What You Pawn I Will Redeem

by

Sherman Alexie
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Officer Williams Character Analysis

Officer Williams is a Seattle police officer who has gotten to know Jackson well over the years that he’s been homeless. While the way Williams talks to Jackson and helps him out suggest that he has respect and sympathy for Jackson, his actions often conflict with his words. Williams believes that Jackson is smart and can’t understand why he ended up on the streets, but at the same time, he doesn’t believe that Jackson could get himself off the streets even if he did have money, because he’d spend it all on alcohol. Jackson believes that Williams is a “good cop” because he reminds him of his grandfather, who was a tribal police officer back home on his reservation. Jackson believes that, like his grandfather, Williams is dedicated to helping people rather than just punishing them, despite that fact that Williams doesn’t help Jackson in any lasting way.

Officer Williams Quotes in What You Pawn I Will Redeem

The What You Pawn I Will Redeem quotes below are all either spoken by Officer Williams or refer to Officer Williams. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Native American Culture and Identity Theme Icon
).
6:00 A.M. Quotes

“And somebody beat the hell out of you,” he said. “You remember who?”

“Mr. Grief and I went a few rounds.”

“It looks like Mr. Grief knocked you out.”

“Mr. Grief always wins.”

Related Characters: Jackson Jackson (speaker), Officer Williams (speaker)
Death and Grief Theme Icon
Page Number: 186
Explanation and Analysis:

“You Indians. How the hell do you laugh so much? I just picked your ass off the railroad tracks, and you’re making jokes. Why the hell do you do that?”

“The two funniest tribes I’ve ever been around are Indians and Jews, so I guess that says something about the inherent humor of genocide.”

Related Characters: Jackson Jackson (speaker), Officer Williams (speaker)
Death and Grief Theme Icon
Page Number: 186-187
Explanation and Analysis:
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Officer Williams Quotes in What You Pawn I Will Redeem

The What You Pawn I Will Redeem quotes below are all either spoken by Officer Williams or refer to Officer Williams. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Native American Culture and Identity Theme Icon
).
6:00 A.M. Quotes

“And somebody beat the hell out of you,” he said. “You remember who?”

“Mr. Grief and I went a few rounds.”

“It looks like Mr. Grief knocked you out.”

“Mr. Grief always wins.”

Related Characters: Jackson Jackson (speaker), Officer Williams (speaker)
Death and Grief Theme Icon
Page Number: 186
Explanation and Analysis:

“You Indians. How the hell do you laugh so much? I just picked your ass off the railroad tracks, and you’re making jokes. Why the hell do you do that?”

“The two funniest tribes I’ve ever been around are Indians and Jews, so I guess that says something about the inherent humor of genocide.”

Related Characters: Jackson Jackson (speaker), Officer Williams (speaker)
Death and Grief Theme Icon
Page Number: 186-187
Explanation and Analysis:
Unlock with LitCharts A+
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