The Absolute True Dairy of a Part-Time Indian

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Sherman Alexie successfully created a novel that approached the acceptance and rejection of poverty and privilege and how jaded adolescents approached these mindsets by applying heavy emphasis on the differences that separates yet connects them. Alexie accomplished this by creating characters that are racial and emotional opposites, but still share the same complications of trying to live their lives around the immovable status quo. Characters such as Arnold and Penelope dream big dreams, but the harsh reality in each case is that Arnold is an Native American child living in poverty, while Penelope is limited by the small town minds surrounding her. Many of Arnold's understandings of his family's poverty state stems from him being a product of the environment he is accustomed to. If Arnold had false realities given to him throughout this novel Alexie would not have been able to create an adolescent who charges towards adversities with realistic roadblocks along the way. Arnold had to accept the fact that he came from a poor household if he was to reject the idea that his poverty permitted him from being offered the same privilege of those not like him. Penelope is seen has the privileged “other” but the possibility of her acting on her dreams is almost as far-fetched has Arnold being an Indian boy with potential. Alexie made Arnold aware of their differences but still claimed they were still connected by stating that they “...were supposed to be happy with our limitations” (112) but instead declared that they “...both wanted to fly.” (112) Rejecting the idea that “the privileged” sees no pain in Alexei's “The absolute true dairy of a part-time Indian” also brings to light the reality that pain is universal. Alexie creates supporting characters with real situations like Gordy and his social disconnect with kids his age and Penelope coping with her bulimia to prove that white privilege is not an exception when it comes to the pain and problems that most adolescents face.  

Comments

  1. Taylor ScottSeptember 8, 2019 at 7:01 PM

    Tiara, I love your view on this novel. I think it is great that you address the issues of ALL the adolescents in the novel, not just Arnold's. Pain is very universal, but sometimes we see it more than other times. Things like racism and poverty have obvious effects, whereas the consequences of social disconnection and bulimia are much more under the radar. What you said about Arnold's mindset being formed by those around him in his community reminds me of our class discussion where we talked about people "beating the Indian out of the child," etc. His community had very strong views on education and white people. He was not the only one who had family that impressed their ideas on their children though--Penelope had people telling her what she could and could not do all the time. This points back to what you were saying about pain being universal.

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  2. Logan FowlerSeptember 9, 2019 at 8:32 AM

    I totally agree with all of your points. Side note: I think its cool how the anticipation questions we answer before we read tend to give us insight about what we are reading. Expanding on what you said, I agree that those who grow up in homes with less income are at a disadvantage in life, however, being in a small town surrounded by those with "small town thinking" is less of a limitation. In both cases (or in any case anyway) I believe that anyone can overcome their circumstances. Mindsets may need to be adjusted and more effort may need to be applied but any goal can be achieved so long as one keeps their priorities straight and does what is necessary. I hope that makes sense.

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