No Limits When Flying 🌤

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In Sherman Alexie’s The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, there is a repetitive theme of comparison with Junior and those around him. Although Junior grew up on the Rez and is surrounded by people he knows, he still often compares himself to them. At the beginning of the novel, it starts out kind of sad because there are obvious aspects that make Junior different from everyone else. From his physical appearance to how he views the world and those around him. Although everyone on the Rez is living the same experience of feeling stuck and growing up in poverty, Junior knows he is still smarter than the rest, but still feels hopeless. “There’s never enough time to change your life. You don’t get to change your life, period” (Alexie, 40). Throughout the novel, there is white vs. Indians and poor vs. rich, which become dominating themes in explaining traumatic but revelating discoveries for Junior. 


Once Junior reaches Rearden, he feels small and helpless surrounded by rich white people and is scared that they will find out that he is poor. Although Junior makes friends he says, “I was still a stranger in a strange land,” (Alexie, 81). I looked this quote up just to see what I could find, and found that there is a book about the challenge of social norms and how the story is about using open-mindedness to “reevaluate such institutions as religion, money, and the fear of death.” I believe that Junior becomes open-minded in accepting the differences with those around him. When meeting Penelope, Junior thought that she would never like him, but Penelope played a huge part in bringing together the theme of difference and comparison. Although Junior is poor and Indian and Penelope is rich and white, they are more than just their differences. They both wanted to be free “We were supposed to be happy with our limitations. But there was no way Penelope and I were going to sit still. Nope, we both wanted to fly” (Alexie, 112). Though Junior sought out differences between him and the Rez and Rearden, he found that he could be whatever he wanted. The differences were a part of life but they did not have to define him and hold him back. 











Comments

  1. Bekah LongSeptember 5, 2021 at 4:48 PM

    I had never thought about Penelope helping with Arnold's identity, but as I read your post I made your connection. I think people around us can hurt and/or benefit our personal identities. This post was well thought out and gave great insight on the book!

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  2. Shaekwon HeardSeptember 8, 2021 at 5:33 PM

    Hey, Sam! Like Bekah, I had never thought about Penelope helping with Arnold's identity. While reading your post, particularly the quote about "we both wanted to fly," Forrest Gump and Jenny came to my mind. One of my favorite lines from that movie and something that I ask for very often, "dear God, make me a bird, so I can fly far, far away." Forrest always compared himself to those around him, particularly because he was aware of his disabilities and was bullied because of them. Jenny played a pivotal role in Forrest developing some self-concept, so that was a good connection for me.

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