In the novel “The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian”, by Sherman Alexie, Mr. P’s advice to Junior is to stay hopeful. Almost everyone on Junior’s reservation has lost hope, including Rowdy, his closest friend. Even though Junior might not notice it right away, he is one of the only person on the reservation who still has hope. Junior is very different from people in many ways. Not only does his health separate him from others, but that Junior has never given up. Even when he was expected to die at such a young age because of his illness, or when others bullied him because of his appearance, Junior even then never gave up. In the following quote, Mr. P tells Junior, “‘The only thing you kids are being taught is how to give up’” (42). I think this quote shows how Mr. P has an inside interpretation on how Indians are treated badly, (especially as a white person). He himself was taught that Indians were bad and that they “must be punished”. Mr. P understands Indians more than any other white person. He understands the position they are in. He understands it is not only the Indians fault for giving up constantly, because he understands what a bad influence he has presented for them. Mr. P realizes he was teaching them to give up, and that he is one to blame for the Indians low expectations for themselves. While most of the people on the reservation have given up, he notices the ones that have not, including Junior. Mary, Junior’s sister had great potential that Mr. P saw in her. But, not only did she lose her hope as well, but she threw away her secret and great talent of writing. Like most people, Mr. P would watch their potential go to waste, but then he realizes that just because they are Indian, does not mean they should give up. Junior is very lucky for Mr. P, because even if he is not Junior’s favorite person in the world, without him, Junior would have been just like everyone else in his family, and given up.
Why do you think Mr. P was helping Junior to become more hopeful? Do you think this is a positive or a negative thing for Junior? Will leaving the reservation change Junior’s life majorly or not? Explain.
I think that Mr. P, inspiring Junior to leave the reservation has a positive impact on Junior because he is an outsider on the reservation and the only way for his to fit in is moving away. Also, like Charlotte said Junior is one of the only people on the reservation with hope and the only way for him to keep that hope is if he leaves the reservation because there is no hope where he is. Leaving the reservation will greatly change his life because then he will finally fit in and belong with the community around him. Also, he will be able to pursue his dreams because he will have no one to tell him to give up which is what he is being taught to do. By Junior leaving the reservation, he will be able to contain his hope because he won't be surrounded by an environment that has no hope.
ReplyDeleteI think Mr. P sees potential in Junior. Mr. P is using Junior to make up for all of the lost "shining stars", like Junior who lost all hope. I also think Mr. P is so sorry for all that the white people have done to the Indians, and by apologizing to Junior and giving him advice to stay hopeful and try to leave the rez, he is trying to make up for all the people he has hurt and all the potential that was lost when the white people kept beating down Indians.
ReplyDeleteMr. P was helping Junior to become more hopeful because unlike the other Indians, Junior hasn't given up yet. Junior felt angry that they cannot afford new textbooks, and throws his in Mr. P's face. He didn't accept it, like his classmates. Mr. P knows that Junior is special that way, and helps him be more hopeful. Leaving the reservation will change Junior's life majorly only if he uses this opportunity well. If he starts to give up slowly, nothing will come out of it. But if he continues to be hopeful, he can change his future.
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ReplyDeleteIn the chapter called Hope Against Hope, Mr. P presents Junior with two pieces of advice. (1) Never lose hope, (2) permanently leave the reservation. Mr. P helps not ONLY Junior, but himself in a positive way. He encourages Junior so that he will learn to fend for himself against negativity. Pressing Arnold to leave home forever, his teacher recognizes his powerful ambition to be successful and explore the world. If Arnold does not leave the poor Spokane village, everyone knows what will happen: he will never be able to escape. Sherman Alexie creates a character like Mr. P to embolden Arnold's hope. Without Mr. P, Arnold would not have considered evading the reservation. If he never left the reservation, he would gradually lose his character and quality assets like faith. Alexie also portrays the character Mr. P to illustrate that not all white people hate Indians. This will push Arnold towards believing that he will eventually find his way into the discriminating world with the support of abolitionists. Building hope in Junior will definitely drive him a long, and overall, positive direction. Born with a brain disorder, this certainly will not be the last time Junior is opposed with difficult decisions that leave him somewhat vacillate.
ReplyDeleteWhy do you think Sherman Alexie created Mr.P? And why the shy, short, and forgetful Mr. P?
In the chapter called Hope Against Hope, Mr. P presents Junior with two pieces of advice. (1) Never lose hope, (2) permanently leave the reservation. Mr. P helps not ONLY Junior, but himself in a positive way. He encourages Junior so that he will learn to fend for himself against negativity. Pressing Arnold to leave home forever, his teacher recognizes his powerful ambition to be successful and explore the world. If Arnold does not leave the poor Spokane village, everyone knows what will happen: he will never be able to escape. Sherman Alexie creates a character like Mr. P to embolden Arnold's hope. Without Mr. P, Arnold would not have considered evading the reservation. If he never left the reservation, he would gradually lose his character and quality assets like faith. Alexie also portrays the character Mr. P to illustrate that not all white people hate Indians. This will push Arnold towards believing that he will eventually find his way into the discriminating world with the support of abolitionists. Building hope in Junior will definitely drive him a long, and overall, positive direction. Born with a brain disorder, this certainly will not be the last time Junior is opposed with difficult decisions that leave him somewhat vacillate.
ReplyDeleteWhy do you think Sherman Alexie created Mr.P? And why the shy, short, and forgetful Mr. P?
Mr. P is an old man and he is so experienced that is the time he has realized what has been happening. He can tell the difference between positive and negative. In his life he also realized that there is nothing wrong with indian culture. Everyone had given up and they all have a rare chance of getting hope again. Everyone just depresses one another and brings them down. Mr. P recognizes this quality of intelligence in Junior and is encouraging him before it is too late. I think this is a positive experience for Junior because it will toughen him up. He can prove himself worthy of such a responsible mission like this. But the negative side of this is that he will have to go through a lot of criticism and abuse from the whites before he reaches his goal. All this can force him to back out but he will have to stand up for himself to tough it out. This change will alter his life forever because he will meet new people he has never dealt with before.
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