In the pages 179-230 Junior laughs a lot, this is because instead of worrying about what bad has happened to him, like his sister's death. He hopes that the other people close to him are still alive and are not hurt. For example, Junior was more worried about his dad than his sister because he was worried that he might die on the way to pick him up from school. He laughs his brains out in the car because he is super duper happy that his dad is alive. In the book there is a quick skit of Junior laughing in the car because he was happy since his dad was alive. When Junior goes to see Rowdy after his sister’s death, Rowdy tells him that it is Juniors fault that his sister died. That since he left the reservation she left too in his footsteps. I think this is not totally wrong. This is because Junior’s sister had always lived in the basement and it was only when he left the reservation was when she left. She also left with not the best man and not the type of guy who you could love. She probably just took him as a ticket out of the reservation even though she persist she loves him. Also early in the book Sherman Alexie tries to tell us how both Junior and his sister’s escape from the reservation were similar. When Junior goes back to his school after his mourning over his sister. One of his obnoxious teachers who has no respect for him says he should not go to Rearden if he does not attend the school that often. The class replies by throwing down their books and marching out. Junior then realized what the two actual groups in the world were. The group of good people and the group of ass-holes. He has now truly understood what is going on and now his identity has grown a lot.
Do you think Rowdy will ever want to deal with Junior again after Junior’s sister’s death? Do you think that his grandmother inspired him to realize the two groups of people in this world? Do you think that Rowdy’s comment about Junior is false or correct?
I think that in a literal sense, you could say that Junior caused his sister's death. It is likely that Junior is responsible for the sequence of events leading to Mary Runs Away's trailer burning down because Junior's transferring to Reardan inspired his sister to leave the basement and follow her dreams. However, I disagree with Rowdy that Junior is to blame for Mary dying. It was definitely not Junior's fault that the trailer caught fire and he should not be held responsible. I think that Rowdy is just so, so, angry at Junior and he hasn't gotten over the feeling of betrayal from his life-long best friend. I think Rowdy will eventually get over it and realize that he needs Junior and Junior needs him. They are important parts of each others lives and I think in the end they will always find each other and be friends again.
ReplyDeleteI think that Junior sort of caused Mary's death but not really. She could be just fine in Montana or that event could have occurred. But, she definitely wouldn't have died by now if she didn't leave. I think that even though she ended up dying, she lived the most that she had and probably ever would have lived in a basement in Spokane. I think that Junior's grandmother helped him a lot to understand everyone and educate him on the white way of life. I think that Rowdy will hate Junior for eternity because that he already has expressed hatred to him directly.
ReplyDeleteI don't think Jr. causes Mary's death because her actions were her own and Jr. just inspired her to try again. I think Rowdy just wanted to use this moment to vent his anger out at Jr. I think Jr. laughing is a way to deal with his life and slow down. When the class stands up to him he realizes that he has friends and that is all he needs which is a huge part of finding his Identity. I think Rowdy and Jr. friendship is destroyed now as well.
ReplyDeleteThe rift between Junior and Rowdy doesn’t seem like it can be fixed with talking- when Junior tries to reach out to Rowdy through email, Rowdy usually shuts the conversation down. However, I think that maybe an event or action can bring them back together again after Junior’s sisters funeral. A simple look in a basketball game could make them forgive each other. If the theme of the book is Junior finding his identity, then Junior has to settle all the wars he is fighting with himself and with others. He has to find a way to balance Reardan and the rez (including Rowdy and his family). If their friendship was really going to be severed forever, Junior would have slowly let their strong bond go as he became more involved in the Reardan world. Instead, he kept trying to find ways to get Rowdy back. This shows how he cannot give up the people and culture that raised him and surrounded him when he was growing up- even if all the whites of Reardan accepted him into their community fully, it would not have made up for the absence of his roots.
ReplyDeleteHow has your impression of Rowdy changed since the beginning? His identity seemed to have shifted somewhat as the story progressed. What benefits did Junior leaving provide to Rowdy?
Rowdy's comment of Junior causing Mary's death is false because, although he did inspire her to run away he had no impact on the fire. When Junior switched schools to Reardan he inspired Mary to live her life to the fullest and leave the reservation where there is hope. Junior showed Mary that the reservation doesn't have to be their only home, he showed her that they can be someone else than just Indian. After Mary ran away it was impossible for him to have any impact on her life. Junior couldn't have stopped Mary to being drunk and the house catching on fire. It was impossible for him to know that her house was going to catch on fire, therefore he had no impact on the fire, but he did cause her to run away.
ReplyDeleteThroughout these chapters, Junior hints at the influence of his grandmother on the choices he makes when finding his true identity. His grandmother did not completely input the idea that the two groups of people in the world are those who are good people and those who are assholes. In fact, using context and descriptions of Grandmother's personality, one could argue that she would actually see the world as more than 'people who aren't' and 'assholes.' When Junior tells Ms. Jeremy the two kinds of people in the world, he is discovering his identity. He says this with authority which shows his evolving confidence, "'I used to think the world was broken down by tribes…black and white…The world is only broken into two tribes: The people who are assholes and the people who are not'" (176). This shows Junior's change in opinions about the people in the world. Through this experience, he navigates himself onto a possible route to discovering his identity into further depths.
ReplyDeleteTo answer Sophie's question, I think Rowdy has benefitted from Junior leaving. He is able to express his feelings more. When Junior was his best friend, he always looked out for him, becoming a potential brother. Junior looked up to Rowdy, transferring more pressure onto Rowdy's shoulders into being the role-model. When Junior left Wellpinit, Rowdy was able to CRY! IN FRONT OF JUNIOR! HE WAS ABLE TO RUN AWAY! This is also a sign of Rowdy finding HIS identity because has developed a stronger sense of being expressive.
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ReplyDeleteI feel that Rowdy should definitely forgive Junior. Junior was Mary’s brother, and the fact that when she died, instead of apologizing to Junior, Rowdy just blamed her death on him. Even though Junior might not have shown it much, Junior loved Mary, and the last thing he needs is for someone to blame the death on him. I feel that was very insecure of Rowdy. Except, I understand how Rowdy does not have much family who cares for him, so Junior’s family was the closest thing he had. Junior and Rowdy were such close friends, they were inseparable when they were together, even though they were in a fight I believe that Mary’s death could possibly even bring them together because they both are going through a rough time.
ReplyDeleteI think eventually Rowdy will end up need Junior assistance. I believe this because, when Rowdy and Junior were friends they trusted each other, they trusted each other to keep secrets. So eventually they will need someone to have their back. However I believe that the death of Mary was Junior's wrongdoing. I believe this because if Junior had not left the reservation Mary wouldn't not have found the courage to leave with her boyfriend.
ReplyDeleteJunior’s grandmother inspired him to realize that there were two types of people in this world, “the people who are assholes and the people who are not” (176). His grandmother was forgiving of any kind of eccentricity, and she always approached people the same way. She hung on to her old Indian spirit, and talked to everyone. After she died, her principles passed on to Junior, and he realized that there were only two groups of people, seperated by actions and attitudes, rather than ethnicity or health. She may have passed on, but she will always be there in Junior’s head, affecting his future choices.
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