In the chapter "Because Geometry is not a Country Somewhere Near France", Junior says this line when he realizes that he is using textbooks handed down from his parents. This shocks him because it truly shows how bad the poverty is in the rez, that they can't even afford to buy a new set of books for every generation. Junior understood that he was poor, as well as the rest of the rez, but he never knew the situation was that bad. Seeing this completely crushed him, because he now understood how poor he really was. To show what he thinks of the book and what he thinks it represents, Junior uses the words "old, old, old, decrepit" (31) (decrepit means worn out or ruined because of old age). The significance of putting "decrepit" in italics is to emphasize what the book really is to Junior: a old, torn up book from a previous generation. Junior then expresses his feelings and emotions towards seeing this by using the line "hit my heart with the force of a nuclear bomb." (31) A nuclear bomb is one of the most devastating and destructive weapons today. By using a nuke in a metaphor representing how angry he feels, Junior conveys the depth of the impact on him upon finding out how poor the people of the rez really were. If using a nuke metaphor wasn't enough to show his emotion, he then adds a picture (worth a thousand words). This picture portrays Junior chucking the book at Mr. P with an extremely emphasized SMASH! and zigzag lines around Junior to show that he is not a happy camper. Junior uses this picture, once again, to show the depth of his anger and hatred. With all these words and even an overly dramatic picture, Junior thoroughly expresses how sad and angry he feels at the same time, and sums all of it up in one line by saying that this event was "absolutely the saddest thing in the world."
Do you think this has given Junior a new perspective on his poverty situation? Do you agree with the way he reacted to this situation? Was it reasonable for him to chuck a book at his teacher, given the mental state he was in? How would you have reacted? Do you now feel sympathy and pity for Junior? Why or why not?
I definitely agree with Julian's point about how when Alexie uses the word decrepit in italics it firmly emphasizes the idea that the book is extremely old. However, as I was reading julian's post I realized that Sherman Alexie may have used the book as a metaphor for life on the Rez. I t believe that it was a metaphor that everything that the children were being given was either worn out or just used up. This even includes the emotions of the people. If I was being pushed down by life and then I was handed a 25 year old textbook I would have snapped and done the same. Junior is a good kid in a horrible situation.
ReplyDeleteI think that through everything that happens in his life, everyday Junior is more aware of how poor his family is. I feel sorry for him, but I don't think he should throw a book at his teacher. I feel bad for Junior because he is obviously very smart, and wants to do something interesting with his life, but the issue of poverty is always bringing him, and his dreams down.
ReplyDeleteRepeating what Jai said, I agree how the usage of decrepit (in italics) emphasizes the point. Junior understands that his family and his community are poor, but not to the extent of reusing textbooks over generations. I also like the usage of "a nuclear bomb". The metaphor set up here is very nice, saying that "My hopes and dreams floated up in a mushroom cloud. What do you do when the world has declared nuclear war on you?" He really shows how much of an impact this makes, and gives Junior a new lens to look through on life.
ReplyDeleteI don't agree with the way Junior reacted to this situation. The fact that he is using the geometry book his mom used may have been shocking to him, but if he looks on the bright side, passing the books down from poor people from poor people from poor people all the way from the very first poor person could be fascinating. I agree that in this chapter, he was given a new perspective on the economic state of the reservation, it was striking, but not that striking for him to throw the book at Mr.P. I feel bad for Junior because his dreams might be ignored just like his parents' since he is in poverty.
ReplyDeleteI understand why Junior would throw the book at Mr. P because he's so frustrated at how poor he and his family is. Junior finally couldn't take it anymore and snapped. I feel very sympathetic for him, he isn't able to have the luxuries in life like us. He has to live his life as a poor, poor kid with many disabilities. Having a textbook that was his mother's thirty years ago was the last straw. But if I were him, I would've been thankful that I actually had a textbook.
ReplyDeleteI agree with what Julian said, but I don't think that this textbook has changed Junior's view on his poverty. His life is pretty dismal already so I am confused why the age of a geometry textbook meant so much to him. I assume that maybe everything else had been a buildup and this was a last straw. Or perhaps it was the fact that Junior was so excited for geometry and that this was a total letdown. Nevertheless, I don't think that it was necessary for him to throw his textbook at the very small Mr. P. If I were in his place, I (probably) would have stayed quiet, but still have the urge to flip out like Junior did.
ReplyDeleteI do sympathize with Junior because of his situation. With all the abuse he takes daily and his poverty situation he was bound to explode at some point. As James said this might have been his “last straw” and anything as slight as a used textbook from his parent’s generation would push him over the line. This shows just how much stress Junior is under because of the rez. I would not act out in the way he did, but I would make sure everyone knows I am stressed out. Do you think this will have a major affect on Junior’s life?
ReplyDeleteI agree with Julian the textboox shows how he is in total poverty. He has trouble just living a normal life not only because of the poverty, but also because of the way he's beat up
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