Rowdy and Gordy are friends of Junior. They both play a significant role in the protagonist’s acclimation to two different societies. Rowdy and Gordy’s personalities are described as vastly different from each other, yet it’s clear that both characters play an important role in Junior’s life. Junior claims that Rowdy helps him navigate life on the reservation by protecting him and claims Gordy helps him navigate life as a student. Junior feels that both Rowdy and Gordy appreciate his cartoons and they both are sources of tough love when he is seeking advice. Though it seems Rowdy and Gordy are opposites, they both have impacted Junior in similar ways.
Junior tells of Rowdy protecting him and sticking up for him. Junior describes how life as …show more content…
Junior draws cartoons for Rowdy to make him laugh and to give him an escape from reality. Rowdy loves Junior’s cartoons and I believe this helps Junior to feel useful in their relationship. Junior states that “I draw cartoons to make him happy, to give him other worlds to live inside”. Cartoons are important to Junior as a way of expressing himself and he seems pleased that Rowdy understands this and supports him. Likewise, Gordy validates Junior’s passion for drawing cartoons. After confessing to Gordy that he draws cartoons, Gordy askes junior, "So you take your cartoons as seriously as you take books?" After asking Gordy the bookworm if it’s pathetic to think cartoons as seriously as books, Gordy replies, "No, not at all”. And tells Junior that "If you're good at it, and you love it, and it helps you navigate the river of the world, then it can't be wrong”. In his old school, Junior was a freak because he loved books, and now in his new school, he has a friend that also loves books and validates his passion for drawing …show more content…
Rowdy and Gordy may never be friends. Their differences may seem too great for friendship. I might even believe that Rowdy would beat up Gordy if given the chance, but as friends of Junior, Rowdy and Gordy have both impacted the protagonist in similar ways. And I would argue that they are similarly vital in the life of Junior and the storyline of the book. Junior’s struggle to find acceptance and belonging on the reservation and at Reardon are a struggle for him. He feels that he doesn’t really belong in either world. White on the inside and red on the outside make him feel like an outsider trying to live in two different
Junior tells of Rowdy protecting him and sticking up for him. Junior describes how life as …show more content…
Junior draws cartoons for Rowdy to make him laugh and to give him an escape from reality. Rowdy loves Junior’s cartoons and I believe this helps Junior to feel useful in their relationship. Junior states that “I draw cartoons to make him happy, to give him other worlds to live inside”. Cartoons are important to Junior as a way of expressing himself and he seems pleased that Rowdy understands this and supports him. Likewise, Gordy validates Junior’s passion for drawing cartoons. After confessing to Gordy that he draws cartoons, Gordy askes junior, "So you take your cartoons as seriously as you take books?" After asking Gordy the bookworm if it’s pathetic to think cartoons as seriously as books, Gordy replies, "No, not at all”. And tells Junior that "If you're good at it, and you love it, and it helps you navigate the river of the world, then it can't be wrong”. In his old school, Junior was a freak because he loved books, and now in his new school, he has a friend that also loves books and validates his passion for drawing …show more content…
Rowdy and Gordy may never be friends. Their differences may seem too great for friendship. I might even believe that Rowdy would beat up Gordy if given the chance, but as friends of Junior, Rowdy and Gordy have both impacted the protagonist in similar ways. And I would argue that they are similarly vital in the life of Junior and the storyline of the book. Junior’s struggle to find acceptance and belonging on the reservation and at Reardon are a struggle for him. He feels that he doesn’t really belong in either world. White on the inside and red on the outside make him feel like an outsider trying to live in two different