In the chapter “Dance, Dance, Dance”, Junior states that this was the “best night of his life” (122) because he sees the dance as a step up the social ladder at Reardan. His horrible struggle when he first arrived at Reardan was a result of many factors: exclusion, difference, racism, loneliness, etc. By being different from all the “hopeful” white kids at Reardan, Junior was alienated from everyone and therefore bullied and ignored for being the odd one out. His goal was to be able to “belong” and be accepted in the white community at Reardan, which is why he became friends with Gordy, who was sharing a similar struggle of isolation. By gaining the friendship of Penelope, Junior has also gain the acceptance of other kids in the school, but only because of Penelope’s popularity. Junior feels that the only way for him to “belong” is to be like the other kids or at least the image they have of a “real” Indian. He shows his effort to hide his true identity in the beginning of this chapter on page 119, where he explains that he pretends to be middle-class so he could be like the other kids, hiding the fact that he is poor. He says “I pretended I belonged” (119) because he believes that by revealing his poverty, he will once again be alienated.
When he arrives at the dance, he is expecting harassment and bullying because of his odd handed-down clothing, but instead receive the opposite: the acceptance and admiration of all the other kids. This confused Junior, because he figured that since he was wearing different clothes, the other people would continue to treat him like the odd one out and see him as the “poor-ass Indian” (124). When he realized that he was being admired, he made us of his “sudden power” (122), turning the disadvantage of difference into an advantage of originality and uniqueness. He then expresses how he felt at the moment using the word “TOGETHER” (122) in all caps, showing what he thought of him and Penelope. By putting it in all caps, he was conveying how joyous and accomplished he was feeling for finally “belonging” Since all the other kids were accepting Junior and treating him like they treated each other, Junior thought that this was he “best night of his life” (122) because it as the night that he truly gained a sense of belonging and identity within a community outside of the rez.
Why do you think the kids at the dance reacted to Junior the way they did? Did Junior understand this? How did the other kids see Junior as an “Indian”? Do they see him as their image of and “Indian” or are they beginning to see him for who he is? Does Junior feel that, because he now belongs with the kids at Reardan, he has truly “left” the community of the rez? Why or why not?
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ReplyDeleteI agree with Julian. I do believe that this night let him ascend the social ladder, and become more popular. I also think that Penelope is an important factor in this equation. If it weren't for Penelope, I think that Junior would not have fit in, and would've been made fun of. However, with her loud exclamation, "Oh, my God!" (122), all the girls and boys respected her decision because she is "pretty and smart and popular" (Hunger Pains, 108). In my opinion, this night is confusing to Junior. He thought he would be left out of the party, but Penelope boosted his confidence. He thought he would be left in the dust because he was poor, but Roger and Penelope were kind and generous about it. Even after the lies. I think that Junior is continuing his exploration of reality from the single story he was taught, which is that white people are gods. In previous sections of reading, Junior has learned about a second story, to make is view on reality more "real". Now, he is continuing that and seeing how they are generous and kind, not the glossy racist slobs they were before he met them.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Julian in the sense that Arnold is very happy with who he is. I think that this is one of the peaks of finding his identity and his happiness with himself. But, it is obvious he couldn’t have done it alone. If it wasn’t for Penelope, Arnold would not be popular and probably would have been made fun of for his suit. The secret that Arnold and Penelope share really binds them in their friendship. Another reason that Penelope and Arnold are friends is that Penelope doesn’t want to be perfect anymore, so she uses Arnold as a way to show people that she is willing to take risks and she is defying Earl and his racist ways. When Arnold is talking about Penelope, he says “Penelope and I became the hot topic because we were defying the great and powerful Earl.” This situation also shows how small things matter. On page 105, Arnold barely convinces Mr. Sheridan to let him go to the bathroom. If Arnold was not allowed to go, the he probably would not have learned Penelope is bulimic, the would not have become friends and Arnold would still be a nobody. Overall, I think that Penelope plays a pivotal role in Arnold finding his identity and that their friendship will last for a long time
ReplyDeleteI agree with everyone saying that Penelope helps make Junior popular. If it weren't for Penelope yelling "Oh, my, god!...That suit is so beautiful. It's so retro active. It's so retroactive that it's radioactive!" (122), everyone would've probably made fun of Arnold. Immediately after Penelope yelled that, "every dude in the joint immediately wished [they'd] worn [their] father's lame polyester suit" (122). This shows that whatever Penelope likes, everybody else in the school likes it because they want Penelope to know they have something in common. Everybody likes it because Penelope is so popular. Everybody likes him because Penelope likes him. But I think Penelope likes him for who he is because she kissed him after he admits he was poor. And cried and hugged him when he said he hitch hikes home and sometimes walks 22 miles home. Penelope is the only one who TRULY likes Junior for who he is. This helps Junior be confident with his identity.
ReplyDeleteYes, Penelope likes Junior for who he is, but I do not think that she is the only one. I think that Rodger also respects Junior and would respect him even if he wasn't going out with Penelope. Like Grandma said:"Your punched the alpha dog in the face...They're going to respect you now" (70). Rodger has learned to like Junior, even if they had major differences in the past. If Rodger liked him just because Penelope liked him, then he wouldn't have given Junior the forty bucks at the diner. He also wouldn't have understood Junior enough to realize he was poor. Gordy also likes Junior for who he is, because he obviously doesn't care about what Penelope likes or dislikes. My point is, there are other people around Junior besides Penelope, and they ALL give him confidence. And this confidence is what ultimately Is going to allow Junior to fit in with the other Readan kids, but not lose his identity as an Indian on the rez.
ReplyDeleteI believe that the kids at the dance acted the way they did for a few reasons. One reason was that the girls liked to see something different. Most of the guys at Rearden just go with the norm. However, by being poor Junior was different. I think after this Penelope thought that he was brave for being different. I definitely think that Junior has now fully left the Rez. By being accepted by the kids at Rearden he can no longer be tied to the kids at Wellepinit. Also, I agree with Philip that whatever Penelope says goes. Penelope is popular and other people want to be like her. Therefore, when she quickly said that Junior's suit was "radioactive."(122), people also liked it.
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