Explain/respond/interpret these quotes:
“My sister’s spirit hadn’t been killed” (91).
“If you’re good at something, and you love it, and it helps you navigate the world, then it can’t be wrong” (95).
In the novel The Absolutely True Diary Of A Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie, the quote “My sister’s spirit hadn’t been killed” (91) represents that she was always alone and she wan under pressure in the reservation. She didn't completely give up because she was determined to make something of her own life by herself. She took a risk by running away on her own but it was worth it because the reservation always seemed to depress her and keep her away. "This reservation had tried to suffocate her, had kept her trapped in a basement, and now she was roaming the huge grassy fields of Montana" (91). This shows that she always had little hope to do something about her life. On page 90 there's a quote, "She said he wasn't afraid to gamble everything, and that was the kind of man she wanted to spend her life with." This quote symbolizes that after all the depression, the sister wants to marry a fearless guy because that would lead her into adventure from her boring life. The sister saw a spirit within this man which was courageous and she knew she would be safe.
My second quote is, "If you’re good at something, and you love it, and it helps you navigate the world, then it can’t be wrong” (95). I think this represents that if you have love or a passion for something and you do it, then it will make you happy. This happiness will create hope. Relating this to Junior, drawing cartoons helps him connect to the world in his way, and this relaxes him down from any tension. Also, when Gordy says "helps you navigate the world," it means that each person has their own way to understand and connect with the world and there's no perfect way. For junior it will be drawing. The quote, "I take them seriously. I use them to understand the world. I use them to make fun of the world. To make fun of people" (95) represents that drawing cartoons can create hope because making fun of people makes you feel better about yourself. Junior also draws to make him feel good which creates some hope.
Do you think this backup hope will be helpful to Junior? Do you think Gordy will help in boosting Junior's hope?What do you feel about Junior's sister in Montana and do you think it was a good decision she took?
I think that Junior and Gordy becoming friends is going to make a major boost in his hope. When he came to Reardan he didn’t have anyone, on page 83 Junior said, “It was the loneliest time of my life.”. He said this before he became friends with Gordy. When you are lonely you don’t have much hope because you don’t have anyone to support you. Although, once he started becoming friends with Gordy, it was obvious that he was gaining more hope. This was shown by Gordy telling him that if he is good at something then he should thrive at it, in Juniors case he was talking about his cartoons. After this scene, Junior didn’t complain about being lonely again. Although, I don’t think Junior becoming friends with Gordy was his only boost of hope, I also think Mary getting married was a boost too. Mary was always locked in the basement. Her whole family thought she would stay there forever until she met her husband and moved to Montana and started “living” her romance novel. This is hopeful for Junior because his sister gaining hope reassures him that he can have hope in the future and so can other Indians.
ReplyDeleteMary's decision to evade the shadows of the reservation made a positive impact on her, the Spokane Reservation and her family. I feel that Mary's decision to run away was up to her. Junior points out that she may have escaped to EXPERIENCE a romance story, "And then I realized my sister was trying to LIVE a romance novel" (90). Growing up being stereotyped is not a smooth road. Due to this insecurity of reputation, Mary was uncomfortable writing romance novels. She has decided to live them instead OF experience what she once loved writing about as a safer way to avoid slander. I think it was a good decision that Mary made to run away. Her impact on Junior is inspiration. She imbues him with a sensation of satisfactory and power. By defying the destiny of those born on the reservation, she has secretly shown Junior what it means to be a warrior. At home, Junior contemplates her run, "But I thought we were being warriors…" (91). One can infer that her impact on the reservation was shock for some, but hope for others. She inputs an incentive to try harder demonstrates that escaping the reservation is not impossible. Sherman Alexie includes this complication of Mary's escape and future to show her impact on those around her, her personality, and how it helps Junior find himself.
ReplyDeleteI think that Mary leaving the reservation is bringing hope to Junior and her but not her parents. I think that the reservation is the source of depression for all of Junior's family and Junior's dream has always to have a better life, and his sister moving from a gloomy basement to the free, beautiful plains of Montana. I think that this will empower Junior to try harder and harder to be like his sister and have a better life. "And then I realized my sister was trying to live a romance novel" (90) I think that Mary's success is due to following her dream, which is to write romance novels, but she was to scared to come out about it so she decided to put her past behind her and live out her dreams. I think that this will force Junior to think, do I belong with the tribe, or the outside world. This is about him finding his identity, just as his sister did.
ReplyDeleteAlso, Gordy and Junior becoming friends is going to give Junior hope because he has been able to become friends with a non-indian and get better at studying and school work which will help him be more successful. Also, the whole idea of having a friend after losing his only one is a huge confidence booster. His whole life he couldn't get a friend other than Rowdy but immediately after losing him, he finds a new, better friend. I think that this will help him be successful in his new school with the study skills from Gordy.