Mary is one of the major characters who has impact on Arnold's identity. To Arnold, she is a role model that he looks up to. In the chapter "My Sister Sends Me an E-mail", Mary writes to him and tells Arnold how amazing her life is in Montana now that she had left the rez and ran off with her husband. She starts by stating the new things she tried out when she first got to Flathead reservation. "I rode the horse for the first time...I'm still looking for a job" (99). Back at the rez, Mary would spend twenty-three hours locked up in the basement, her parents were trying to get her a job so she wouldn't be staying down there all day long. Mary was seeking for an opportunity to leave the rez, and when she saw one, she would grab on to it and never let go. At Flathead reservation, she has opened up and is willing to try out new things. Arnold realizes that he is no longer the only person to leave the rez, and also, he could pursue his dream just like his sister did. "It was a dream come true! I love my life! I love my husband! I love Montana! I love you!" (100). Mary's positive attitude to leaving the rez made Arnold look at his situation at a different angle, too. Just like Mary, he no longer cares about what other people think of him, and started enjoying his time being a part-time Indian.
This email was only sent to Arnold, not to anyone else in the family because Mary thinks that she and her brother is experiencing and feeling the same thing. Both of them have the courage to do what other people would never even think of doing -- leaving the rez. The only person Mary thinks that could understand why she left is Arnold, not her parents, who were begging for her to come back without paying attention to her dreams. Her parents see this event in a single-storied way, one that starts with Mary locking herself in the basement and ends with her running away. They ignored the one that starts with Mary's love for books and ends with she being able to be the person she wants to be.
What do you think the email from Mary means to Arnold? Why do you think Mary address this email only to Arnold but not the other members of her family? Would the family still react this way if they have known the whole story? Who else had an impact on Arnold? How? Who impacted your life? Explain.
This email was only sent to Arnold, not to anyone else in the family because Mary thinks that she and her brother is experiencing and feeling the same thing. Both of them have the courage to do what other people would never even think of doing -- leaving the rez. The only person Mary thinks that could understand why she left is Arnold, not her parents, who were begging for her to come back without paying attention to her dreams. Her parents see this event in a single-storied way, one that starts with Mary locking herself in the basement and ends with her running away. They ignored the one that starts with Mary's love for books and ends with she being able to be the person she wants to be.
What do you think the email from Mary means to Arnold? Why do you think Mary address this email only to Arnold but not the other members of her family? Would the family still react this way if they have known the whole story? Who else had an impact on Arnold? How? Who impacted your life? Explain.
I feel that Junior sees this e-mail from his sister as a success. Junior's plan was to leave the poverty and hatred of the rez in search for a new, and better life in hopes of a better future. At the moment, he's having a lot of regrets about leaving the rez. Losing his closest friend Rowdy and having the whole rez hate him for being a "traitor" were the consequences, but now he isn't even doing too well at Reardan. At Reardan, he encounters other problems: bullying, harassment, ignorance, loneliness, and racism. Junior is going through a really rough time in his life, and starts having regrets about his decision to leave. But, by receiving Mary's e-mail, a new hope is sparked in Junior. Junior sees that it is possible for someone to leave the rez and find happiness, which was clearly shown through the emotion in Mary's e-mail. Arnold saw that someone else, who was probably the most unhopeful person he knew, managed to leave the rez to find a place where she belonged and was content. She was leading the beginning of a bright future and felt she had truly found her identity. This was what Junior was aiming to do, and by seeing someone else achieve it first, he realizes that it is a realistic and true possibility/goal for him, regardless of his current situation.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Kelsey with the idea that Mary only sent the email to Arnold because he would be the only one to understand. I think that Arnold and Mary have a special sister/brother connection. They get each other. I think that Mary sent the email only to Arnold so it could give him some inspiration to leave the rez. I feel like she didn't send the email to her mom and dad because there would not be a reason to. If she sent the email to her parents, they wouldn't understand that her leaving the rez was so much better than staying on it with her family. Her parents would only try to get Mary back. Arnold realizes that his sister is so much happier than before. She gets to have fun on the Flathead rez. She rides horses, she loves her husband, her new life, and Montana in general. This email is a way for Arnold to realize that leaving the rez will give him so many opportunities not given on the rez. He will be free once he gets out.
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ReplyDeleteI definitely agree with Kelsey. I also agree that Arnold and Mary have a special bond. They both had the potential to be great. However Mary didn't take the opportunity. Like Arnold they both had huge changes in their lives for the better. In flathead Mary is enjoying herself. Although Arnold isn't enjoying himself at Rearden he still has Gordy, and he is learning a lot. Both Mary and Arnold had big changes in their lives and I hop it's for the better. Also, I think that Arnold has a few people that impact him. One of those people is Rowdy. Although Rowdy is angry at Junior they still care for each other even if they can't admit it.
ReplyDeleteI think that Junior and Mary defiantly have a bond. The both moved of the rez in a way . The changes they both chose to make have helped them make a better life. I think that the reason this was only addressed to Junior is because Mary feels that Junior needs to hear what happens when you do whats best for you. I think another reason this was to Junior is because of their bond. I think this email is inspiration for Junior to do something big in his life. To get off the Rez and to become successful.
ReplyDeleteIf Junior permanently leaves the Rez will he stay in touch with Rowdy?