The branches are like a metaphor for the hardships in life Junior has experienced. All the deaths that he has had to deal with. Every death and unfortunate thing is another branch up the tree. But Junior knows that he has to keep climbing in order to reach the top.
This flashback helps Junior realize many things. It helps him realize that life is a beautiful gift. And to not take it for granted. Junior can also tell that he's hard working, and will continue to pursue his dreams. The facts that Junior has this flashback with Rowdy in it, hints that everything is going to be ok in the end. Rowdy has been Junior's best friend since what feels like forever, and it's very important that Rowdy was a part of Junior's realization about his future life. It is now clear that even though Rowdy and Junior had their major fight for a while, Rowdy is proud of Junior. Junior knows they'll always be there for each other, even if they're not in the same location. "I would always love Rowdy. And I would always miss him, too" (230). Sure enough, in the end, they both realize that life goes on, and so must they.
What do you think about the ending? Is this a happy ending? What else do you think Junior has realized?
What do you think about the ending? Is this a happy ending? What else do you think Junior has realized?
I totally agree with Olivia. Also, I find the metaphor with the tree branches very interesting and fitting in their situation, although I didn't realize it was a metaphor. when I read through. Though Rowdy is still pissed at Junior for leaving him, he begins to realize that Junior is not leaving to go to a better place and leave Rowdy, but to follow his hopes and dreams. Rowdy accepts this, and comes to Junior as an act of forgiveness, which Junior accepts and forgives Rowdy (although he never blamed Rowdy for his reactions to Junior leaving). They were obsessing over their problems and each other's actions, but now they realized how insignificant it is in the big picture, which is shown when Alexie describes how large and old the trees are in comparison to Junior and Rowdy's lives. Now that they understand each others thoughts and goals, they can once again be friends.
ReplyDeleteI agree very much with what both Olivia and Julian said. To make Julian feel better, I also did not know that the branches on the tree was a metaphor. I think that this metaphor fit perfectly into the situation because he was having a flashback about Rowdy. It also fits because, how Olivia said, the metaphor is that life must go on, there isn't going back. Junior’s sister just died, and he feels depressed and confused in life, but he realizes that life must go on. I also agree with OMI when she says that Rowdy and Junior will (most likely) always be best friends. I agree on how Rowdy realizes that Junior never thought he was any better than him or ANY of the other Indians on the rez, he was just following his dreams. Rowdy and Junior will always be the best of friends.
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