Sherman Alexie mixes the Native American world with the middle class white world, creating quite an enlightening mixture of adventure in the novel, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. Arnold (Junior), an Indian teenager, was a nobody; He was “a zero on the rez” (16). Little did Junior know that every thing he thought about himself as a zero is about to be proven wrong. In Sherman Alexie’s The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, Arnold’s transformation ignited within a maze of hope and change is shown through his self-evaluation, interaction with others, and lessons gained from others which eventually reveals Arnold’s true potential.
Arnold’s potential is first shown by his ability to self evaluate and decide to leave …show more content…
With discrimination and bullies around, it is not going to be easy with boys like Roger saying that Arnold is “living proof that niggers fuck buffalo” (62). To begin with, it is a clear sign of discrimination and as Arnold defends himself from roger introduced him to one element of power: respect. Arnold finds out that he can be respected by defending himself in this new environment. He then meets Gordy, who also introduce him to another element of power. Gordy is like a white version of Junior in Reardan high, they both were the smartest in their own world, and Gordy inspired Junior to seek for more knowledge. His biggest words of inspiration were that junior should “approach each book- approach life- with the real possibility that [he might] get a metaphorical boner at any point. With the new advice given from Gordy, Arnold realized by interacting with more people that knowledge and defending will help make his place at …show more content…
He finds that he has stepped out of the cycle of failure by going to school outside the reservation and that he has discovered his full potential by escaping all the negativity in his Indian life. A road of wisdom was paved by grief, judgment and betrayal for Arnold and has taken away all the guilt that blocks his abilities to hope and change. The Indian teenager discovers his true potential through his self-evaluation, interaction with others, and lessons gained from others. He develops his passion, guidance and intellect from others in a tragic but enlightening environment that changes him from the clueless naïve boy to a motivated and educated teenager who has a marvelous connection between two worlds and
Arnold’s potential is first shown by his ability to self evaluate and decide to leave …show more content…
With discrimination and bullies around, it is not going to be easy with boys like Roger saying that Arnold is “living proof that niggers fuck buffalo” (62). To begin with, it is a clear sign of discrimination and as Arnold defends himself from roger introduced him to one element of power: respect. Arnold finds out that he can be respected by defending himself in this new environment. He then meets Gordy, who also introduce him to another element of power. Gordy is like a white version of Junior in Reardan high, they both were the smartest in their own world, and Gordy inspired Junior to seek for more knowledge. His biggest words of inspiration were that junior should “approach each book- approach life- with the real possibility that [he might] get a metaphorical boner at any point. With the new advice given from Gordy, Arnold realized by interacting with more people that knowledge and defending will help make his place at …show more content…
He finds that he has stepped out of the cycle of failure by going to school outside the reservation and that he has discovered his full potential by escaping all the negativity in his Indian life. A road of wisdom was paved by grief, judgment and betrayal for Arnold and has taken away all the guilt that blocks his abilities to hope and change. The Indian teenager discovers his true potential through his self-evaluation, interaction with others, and lessons gained from others. He develops his passion, guidance and intellect from others in a tragic but enlightening environment that changes him from the clueless naïve boy to a motivated and educated teenager who has a marvelous connection between two worlds and