Where does optimism and hope come from? Being optimistic means being hopeful and having confidence that positive things will happen in the future. Friendship, hope, and loyalty lead to optimism. With that, responsibility helps to conclude and achieve those personal ambitions. “Of Mice and Men”, by John Steinbeck, and “The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian”, by Sherman Alexie, make a perfect description of optimism and loyalty, and how friendships can be tested with a difficult situation where one person risks everything to help the other. There is nothing stronger than two optimistic friends that dream of a better future and a better life. In John Steinbeck’s novel, Of Mice and Men, George describes to Lennie their friendship: “With
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Sherman Alexie’s novel, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, demonstrates the courage that takes Junior to move from school, and chase his dreams of success. When Junior and his father say goodbye to each other before his first day of school at Reardan, his father says: “Just remember this, those white people aren’t better than you... This is a great thing. You’re so brave, you’re a warrior… I love you” (Steinbeck 55). Junior’s father reveals all the love and pride that he has for his son, because he knows that moving from the reservation needs toughness and responsibility. He knows that Junior will succeed, since not every Native American leaves his/her own reservation pursuing his/her dreams. Alexie demonstrates the way that a dream needs hope, optimism, and risks. Risks that not everyone dares to take. After his graduation, Junior learned the meaning of a real friendship, “Rowdy, you’re crying. - I said. I ain’t crying, you’re crying. -He said. I touched my face. It was dry. No tears yet. I can’t remember how to cry. -I said. That made Rowdy sort of choke. He gasped a little. And more tears rolled down his face” (Alexie 210). This conversation between Junior and Rowdy demonstrate how their friendship is still strong, even though all the problems that they went through. Rowdy “hated” Junior, he did not want to see him anymore nor be his friend. Junior was depressed because of that, but Rowdy proved to him that after one year he still had feelings for his best friend. Alexie emphasizes the meaning of true friendship. He demonstrates how human beings behave when they have problems with their friends, and how in the end they reconcile and show loyalty to each
Sherman Alexie’s novel, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, demonstrates the courage that takes Junior to move from school, and chase his dreams of success. When Junior and his father say goodbye to each other before his first day of school at Reardan, his father says: “Just remember this, those white people aren’t better than you... This is a great thing. You’re so brave, you’re a warrior… I love you” (Steinbeck 55). Junior’s father reveals all the love and pride that he has for his son, because he knows that moving from the reservation needs toughness and responsibility. He knows that Junior will succeed, since not every Native American leaves his/her own reservation pursuing his/her dreams. Alexie demonstrates the way that a dream needs hope, optimism, and risks. Risks that not everyone dares to take. After his graduation, Junior learned the meaning of a real friendship, “Rowdy, you’re crying. - I said. I ain’t crying, you’re crying. -He said. I touched my face. It was dry. No tears yet. I can’t remember how to cry. -I said. That made Rowdy sort of choke. He gasped a little. And more tears rolled down his face” (Alexie 210). This conversation between Junior and Rowdy demonstrate how their friendship is still strong, even though all the problems that they went through. Rowdy “hated” Junior, he did not want to see him anymore nor be his friend. Junior was depressed because of that, but Rowdy proved to him that after one year he still had feelings for his best friend. Alexie emphasizes the meaning of true friendship. He demonstrates how human beings behave when they have problems with their friends, and how in the end they reconcile and show loyalty to each