In the poem, "The Amtrak from Boston to New York," by Sherman Alexie, the author introduces two characters from different walks of life, which are brought together on an Amtrak from Boston to New York. Though, these two characters are on the same Amtrak, their cultural perspectives and differences separate them. Through the use of irony, imagery, diction, and tone the reader can infer that the theme of the poem is about the conflict of cultural differences and values.
The speaker accomplishes the use of irony in "The Amtrak from Boston to New York" by using historical references. Alexie points out in the first stanza that the white woman stares in amazement of the old historical house saying "that house on that hill is over 200 years old". In the speaker's mind he goes on to say that his architecture is "15,000 year older" than the house on the hill. The speaker identifies the irony and the narrow-mindedness of white woman's comments, and acknowledges that his people have been there longer than anyone else. In the third stanza, the speaker goes on to say that the elderly woman reiterates the use of "Walden Pond" saying "did you see Walden Pond?"(12). Alexie continues to point out the irony of what the white woman is saying to the Native American by indicating "there are least five Walden Ponds on my little reservation"(14-15). Alexie shows that the Native American's history is more of importance than the white woman's. .
Sherman Alexie uses imagery to identify the visual surroundings of where the poem is taken place. These events are acknowledged in the title " The Amtrak from Boston to New York", which identifies where the characters are heading and traveling on. In the first stanza, the speaker identifies that the characters are sitting across from one another by saying "across" and "aisle"(1).