Role of Basketball in Part-time Indian
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, written by Sherman Alexie, is about a young Indian boy, Junior, and his struggle to find his place in the reservation and the white community. Basketball is an essential theme in the story that connects both of Junior’s worlds. Though basketball, Junior gains confidence and perseverance, insight into different ideas and worlds, and realization that status doesn’t determine your future.
Junior learns confidence and perseverance through basketball. He is scared to stand up to others and often backs down during challenges. “My all-time record was five wins and one hundred and twelve losses” (62). Junior loses most of his fights because he is scared, and often …show more content…
In the beginning of the story, Junior has a very narrow view of the world. After he joins the Reardan basketball team, he learns to experience things from other points of view. Junior always knew that the Indians were poor. However, he doesn’t really comprehend how bad off they were until he played against them in basketball. Junior says that “all of the guys on our team were going to college...had their own cars...had iPods and cell phones” (195). However, Junior also states, “I knew that...those Indians might not have eaten breakfast that morning. I knew that none of them was going college” (195). After the rematch with the Wellpinit team, Junior really sees how much worse the Indians are than the Reardan kids. They had already lost in the game of life, and Reardan had taken one more achievement away from them. This basketball game is an important moment in Junior’s life where he truly understands the standpoints of two …show more content…
Junior lives on the rez, where “because you're Indian… you’re destined to be poor” (13). However, Junior doesn’t want to realize that the most privileged people can lose, and the weak can win. “We played...this tiny farm-town team, and they beat us…” (196). Reardan is this big white school, and they lost to this tiny other team. Normally, such a small team would have no chance against the bigger school. They were expected to lose, but they refused right down to the last second. Junior also believes that one decision can change your life forever. “One play can determine the course of a game. One play can change your momentum forever” (194). Junior’s decision to leave the rez completely altered his path of life. If he stayed on the reservation, he would have rotted away, just like all the other Indians, who had faded away until the world ceased to exist for them. However, Junior didn’t want this fate, and completely changed his life by switching schools to
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, written by Sherman Alexie, is about a young Indian boy, Junior, and his struggle to find his place in the reservation and the white community. Basketball is an essential theme in the story that connects both of Junior’s worlds. Though basketball, Junior gains confidence and perseverance, insight into different ideas and worlds, and realization that status doesn’t determine your future.
Junior learns confidence and perseverance through basketball. He is scared to stand up to others and often backs down during challenges. “My all-time record was five wins and one hundred and twelve losses” (62). Junior loses most of his fights because he is scared, and often …show more content…
In the beginning of the story, Junior has a very narrow view of the world. After he joins the Reardan basketball team, he learns to experience things from other points of view. Junior always knew that the Indians were poor. However, he doesn’t really comprehend how bad off they were until he played against them in basketball. Junior says that “all of the guys on our team were going to college...had their own cars...had iPods and cell phones” (195). However, Junior also states, “I knew that...those Indians might not have eaten breakfast that morning. I knew that none of them was going college” (195). After the rematch with the Wellpinit team, Junior really sees how much worse the Indians are than the Reardan kids. They had already lost in the game of life, and Reardan had taken one more achievement away from them. This basketball game is an important moment in Junior’s life where he truly understands the standpoints of two …show more content…
Junior lives on the rez, where “because you're Indian… you’re destined to be poor” (13). However, Junior doesn’t want to realize that the most privileged people can lose, and the weak can win. “We played...this tiny farm-town team, and they beat us…” (196). Reardan is this big white school, and they lost to this tiny other team. Normally, such a small team would have no chance against the bigger school. They were expected to lose, but they refused right down to the last second. Junior also believes that one decision can change your life forever. “One play can determine the course of a game. One play can change your momentum forever” (194). Junior’s decision to leave the rez completely altered his path of life. If he stayed on the reservation, he would have rotted away, just like all the other Indians, who had faded away until the world ceased to exist for them. However, Junior didn’t want this fate, and completely changed his life by switching schools to