People handle difficult situations and express their feelings in many different ways. In The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, the author communicates the pain and rage that the main character, Arnold Spirit, feels as he faces the everyday challenges of growing up on an impoverished Indian reservation. Throughout the novel, Arnold describes many of the adversities that him and his loved ones have to face, revealing how it emotionally, mentally, and even sometimes physically, takes a toll on them.
Arnold was raised by parents who could hardly manage to put food on the table, and he has to witness the helplessness of his family and friends. The students and young adults on Arnold’s reservation endure the detrimental effects of poverty, …show more content…
The students on his reservation do not have the same educational advantage that other students with money have, like buying new books. Something else they did not have was “food in the house”, and most of them do not have anything for breakfast (Alexie 195). Many of the students in Arnold’s school have drunken mothers and fathers, fathers in prison, and Arnold knew that “not one of them” were going to college (Alexie 195). They are stuck in an ugly circle, “and there’s nothing you can do about it” (Alexie 13). This leads to the children and young adults on the reservation to start feeling helpless, causing many to “fade year by year”, until they eventually end up like their parents - except for Arnold. (Barcott …show more content…
At Rearden, Arnold felt compelled to "[lie] about how poor [he] was" and "pretended [he] belonged" (Alexie 119). When Arnold took his crush, Penelope, to the Winter Formal with only five dollars, he had to make it through the night without "revealing his poverty" (Alexie 123). Arnold was relieved that they had forgotten to take pictures because he knew he could not afford it, and even "rehearsed a speech" about "losing [his] wallet" (Alexie 123). After the dance, however, Arnold had to face the " pancakes of doom", "the butter of shame" and "the syrup of regret" at a Denny 's in Spokane (Alexie 124). Arnold is not able to afford any of the food he ordered, calling it the "last meal before [his] execution" (Alexie 125). Arnold finally has to lie about "losing his wallet", leaving one of his friends to pay for his and Penelope 's meal (Alexie 126). Arnold has to deal with the embarrassment of not having enough money to enjoy the things that others can, like pancakes and pictures. When it comes to poverty, even the simplest things in life become
Arnold was raised by parents who could hardly manage to put food on the table, and he has to witness the helplessness of his family and friends. The students and young adults on Arnold’s reservation endure the detrimental effects of poverty, …show more content…
The students on his reservation do not have the same educational advantage that other students with money have, like buying new books. Something else they did not have was “food in the house”, and most of them do not have anything for breakfast (Alexie 195). Many of the students in Arnold’s school have drunken mothers and fathers, fathers in prison, and Arnold knew that “not one of them” were going to college (Alexie 195). They are stuck in an ugly circle, “and there’s nothing you can do about it” (Alexie 13). This leads to the children and young adults on the reservation to start feeling helpless, causing many to “fade year by year”, until they eventually end up like their parents - except for Arnold. (Barcott …show more content…
At Rearden, Arnold felt compelled to "[lie] about how poor [he] was" and "pretended [he] belonged" (Alexie 119). When Arnold took his crush, Penelope, to the Winter Formal with only five dollars, he had to make it through the night without "revealing his poverty" (Alexie 123). Arnold was relieved that they had forgotten to take pictures because he knew he could not afford it, and even "rehearsed a speech" about "losing [his] wallet" (Alexie 123). After the dance, however, Arnold had to face the " pancakes of doom", "the butter of shame" and "the syrup of regret" at a Denny 's in Spokane (Alexie 124). Arnold is not able to afford any of the food he ordered, calling it the "last meal before [his] execution" (Alexie 125). Arnold finally has to lie about "losing his wallet", leaving one of his friends to pay for his and Penelope 's meal (Alexie 126). Arnold has to deal with the embarrassment of not having enough money to enjoy the things that others can, like pancakes and pictures. When it comes to poverty, even the simplest things in life become