The Heroism of Junior Superman. Batman. Iron Man. When one thinks of heroes, these are the usual kinds of people that come to mind. However, the definition of heroes encompasses so much more. One should not neglect the everyday heroes that pave the way for others in both accomplishments and mindset, even if they are not saving the world from villains. In Sherman Alexie’s novel, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, Junior is a Native American boy living on the Spokane Reservation, a place of widespread hopelessness and poverty. However, in spite of his disabilities, bullying, and the suffocating mindset of the community, he leaves the reservation in search of better opportunities at a white school where he can fulfill his dreams. Junior’s hopefulness, pursuit of his dreams,
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Despite struggles with poverty and racism, Junior finds hope in his art, helping him stand out as a hero on the hopeless reservation. Mr. P., Junior’s geometry teacher, tells Junior: “‘All these kids have given up … All your friends. All the bullies. And their mothers and fathers have given up, too. And their grandparents gave up and their grandparents before them … We’re all defeated’” (Alexie 42). This quote implies that all of the other Native Americans have given up in life owing to the vicious cycle of alcoholism and poverty on the reservation. Suppressed by losses and their unfavorable circumstances, the Indians have no ambitions for a better future and are stuck in their dilemma. On the other hand, Junior rejects this despairing view and captures his wishes as doodles on paper. He explains: "I think the world is a series of broken dams and floods, and my cartoons are tiny little lifeboats" (6). In the quote, he
Despite struggles with poverty and racism, Junior finds hope in his art, helping him stand out as a hero on the hopeless reservation. Mr. P., Junior’s geometry teacher, tells Junior: “‘All these kids have given up … All your friends. All the bullies. And their mothers and fathers have given up, too. And their grandparents gave up and their grandparents before them … We’re all defeated’” (Alexie 42). This quote implies that all of the other Native Americans have given up in life owing to the vicious cycle of alcoholism and poverty on the reservation. Suppressed by losses and their unfavorable circumstances, the Indians have no ambitions for a better future and are stuck in their dilemma. On the other hand, Junior rejects this despairing view and captures his wishes as doodles on paper. He explains: "I think the world is a series of broken dams and floods, and my cartoons are tiny little lifeboats" (6). In the quote, he