1 Significance of title/cover art • “Our white dentist believed that Indians only felt half as much pain as white people did” (2)
• “And then you start believing that you’re stupid and ugly because you’re Indian. And because you’re Indian you start believing you’re destined to be poor. It’s an ugly circle” (13) The key words in the title that carry the most significance are the words “Absolutely True”, which promises that the narrator is reliable, and that he had experienced everything he says he did (which adds to both the mood and the tone of the novel). The other key word is “Part-Time”, which emphasizes the duality that Junior feels, as being both an Indian and an American, depending on whose company he’s in; such as the white dentist, versus Rowdy. This represents both an inner struggle, and a struggle between the white power structure and him. The images on the cover also hold significance, as they are children’s toys depicting a stereotypical Native American and a cowboy. This furthers the idea that Junior is divided between what the world thinks of him, and what he knows about his own culture.
2 The Innocent (The Ego) Archetype • “’I want you to say that you deserve better.’ I couldn’t …show more content…
N.p., n.d. Web. 9 Feb. 2017. . This source offers a description of how Native Americans were treated by others from the 1950's to 90's, and was thus very useful in providing context for both the setting and the characters' mindset in the novel. It describes the 1972 Indian Education Act, which gave Indian parents more control over their children's schools and curriculum. As well as the 1978 Indian Child Welfare Act which gave tribes control over custody decisions involving Indian children. There's also the 1976 Indian Health Care Act which was put into place to address any problems in Indian health care, which is mentioned explicitly in the novel itself. All of these acts, the reasons behind passing them are explained in this
• “And then you start believing that you’re stupid and ugly because you’re Indian. And because you’re Indian you start believing you’re destined to be poor. It’s an ugly circle” (13) The key words in the title that carry the most significance are the words “Absolutely True”, which promises that the narrator is reliable, and that he had experienced everything he says he did (which adds to both the mood and the tone of the novel). The other key word is “Part-Time”, which emphasizes the duality that Junior feels, as being both an Indian and an American, depending on whose company he’s in; such as the white dentist, versus Rowdy. This represents both an inner struggle, and a struggle between the white power structure and him. The images on the cover also hold significance, as they are children’s toys depicting a stereotypical Native American and a cowboy. This furthers the idea that Junior is divided between what the world thinks of him, and what he knows about his own culture.
2 The Innocent (The Ego) Archetype • “’I want you to say that you deserve better.’ I couldn’t …show more content…
N.p., n.d. Web. 9 Feb. 2017. . This source offers a description of how Native Americans were treated by others from the 1950's to 90's, and was thus very useful in providing context for both the setting and the characters' mindset in the novel. It describes the 1972 Indian Education Act, which gave Indian parents more control over their children's schools and curriculum. As well as the 1978 Indian Child Welfare Act which gave tribes control over custody decisions involving Indian children. There's also the 1976 Indian Health Care Act which was put into place to address any problems in Indian health care, which is mentioned explicitly in the novel itself. All of these acts, the reasons behind passing them are explained in this