In the chapter
“Hope Against Hope”, Junior receives a key piece of information that would change
his life forever. Mr. P, his teacher, tells him to, simply put, leave the
reservation. At first, Junior does not understand the significance of what Mr.
P said. He says that he is “going to Spokane with my dad later” (42), showing
that Junior thinks he means to just leave temporarily. Mr. P replies to this,
saying “No, I mean you have to leave the rez forever.” Sherman Alexie puts the word forever in italics, putting emphasis onto it. Junior still doesn’t
comprehend the meaning behind this chunk of advice and elaborates by saying
“The only thing you kids are being taught is how to give up.” (42) Junior
doesn’t realize how much of an impact the rez has had onto him. In the previous
chapter “Because Geometry is not a Country Somewhere Near France”, Junior is
appalled by the age of the textbooks, and almost gives up, almost just sits
down and sighs in the utter absurdity of having generation-old books. But Junior
doesn’t do that. He throws the book. Mr. P says this at a later meeting between
him and Junior; “You threw that book in my face because somewhere inside you
refuse to give up.” (43) The concept of “giving up” is something that is easily
found within Junior. He fought off the brain surgery, the seizures, and
bullies. Anywhere along his life he could’ve just given up, could’ve ran away
like Mary or became vicious like Rowdy. But he didn’t. When Junior begins to
understand, Mr. P says the final sentence in the chapter, “You’re going to find
more and more hope the farther and farther you walk away from this sad, sad,
sad reservation.” (43) Mr. P is implying, forcibly suggesting, really, to
leave, and find hope elsewhere. Sherman Alexie’s repetition of “sad” shows
emphasis without italics. To sum up the chapter, Junior adds a picture, showing
crossroads. On one side of the sign shows “rez” and “home”, but on the other,
it shows “hope” and question marks. Junior uses this picture to show his hesitant
and questioning thoughts about leaving the rez.
What would you have done if you were
in Junior’s shoes when he received the advice? Why does Junior seem so puzzled
at the advice? Have you ever given up/lost hope? Do you agree with Mr. P’s
theory or ideas? Have any of your teachers given you advice that could change
you or your life? What?
I agree with how Junior was skeptical about leaving the reservation. The reservation is is home and where he grew up. Also leaving would also mean that "[his] fellow tribal members are going to torture [him]." (47) Meaning that he would be a traitor to his own people by going to a white school. But Mr. P is right about telling Junior to leave the rez. After Mr. P mentions that Junior's sister, Mary wanted to be a romance novel writer but then stopped writing. Junior thought maybe something made Mary let go of her dream. I think that the something is the rez. Everyone on the rez is so poor and desperate that people would just give up on everything. If Junior doesn't leave the reservation now, he will not be able to fulfill everything he was made for. He will not be able to fulfill his full potential.
ReplyDeleteDo you think Junior should leave the reservation, or stay?
I think this greatly relates to the theme of giving up on dreams, because they are ignored. As Indians, they are seen are lesser people, and everyone, including Junior's parents, are taught to believe that. On page 45, when Junior asks his parents "Who has the most hope?" they both reply with "white people" immediately. On the rez, like Stanley said, they teach that Indians are lesser people, and are taught to give up and accept that. Mr. P wants Junior to go somewhere in the rest of the world, and to see that he can be someone. I agree with Stanley when he says "Junior doesn’t realize how much of an impact the rez has had onto him." In response to Philip's question "Do you think Junior should leave the reservation, or stay?" I think that he should leave, because of the hope that Mr. P sees of Junior being someone, not just a lesser person. Junior needs to get out of that state of mind, and he needs experiences in the real world to get there.
ReplyDeleteDo you think it would be a hard transition, being taught you're not as good as others and then being shown that it doesn't have to be that way?
I am in total agreement with Junior's reaction. If I were him, I would've taken that comment as an insult. Naturally, Mr. P was angry, and telling Junior to leave the rez sounded like a cutting insult saying that Junior was a disgrace and doesn't belong in the rez. However, the emotion behind this comment contradicts the words. Mr. P says it in a manner that makes it sound like he is giving advice, but the words sound derogatory. Because of this odd contradiction, Junior is left in confusion. But, once Mr. P elaborates, Junior realizes that he wants to help Junior to have hope and lead a significant life. Still, Junior is confused why Mr. P would want to help him after chucking a book at his face. Mr. P continues to talk, and explains how he saw potential in Junior. Instead of "giving up" and succumbing to failure, Junior stood up against his poverty and hard situation in a strong act of defiance. Because of this act of defiance, Mr. P saw potential in Junior to become something more than he is now, which is not possible within the dismal atmosphere of the rez. Therefore, he says that the only option for Junior to lead a hopeful and significant life and follow his dreams is to leave the rez and go somewhere else, in this case the whole different world of rich, white "hope" at Reardan.
ReplyDeleteIf I were Junior I would probably think that Mr. P. is out of his mind. Just simply leave? "We can't afford to move [out of the rez]" (47). What about friends? Well, Rowdy's going to get mad and probably punch Arnold in the face. What would other people think? "The Indians around here are going to be angry with [Junior]" (47). On the picture on the bottom of page 43, the future is where hope would be found, yet Junior is in a hopeless situation because he is facing so many problems already. He is entering a world that is unknown to him, but also where he will find hope. A place where his dream of becoming of a cartoonist could come true.
ReplyDeleteI think Arnold should leave the reservation. If he doesn't, "[everyone on the rez] are going to kill [Junior]" (43). He would eventually give up and run away. Going away from the rez is the only way for Junior to pursue after his dream and not have it ignored.
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ReplyDeleteI definitely and completely agree with Junior's reaction. If my teacher told me to move I would have been surprised and not taken them seriously. The Rez is a hard place to live where as Newton (where I live) isn't. If one of my teachers told that I should go to a school 22 miles away instead of a school within walking distance I would have laughed. However, if I lived on the Rez, I would do the same as Junior. I would say no if my teacher told to move schools without an explanation, but later I would follow Junior's path. As Mr. P elaborated on the bad things about the Rez school I would understand where he was coming from. In response to Philp's question I firmly believe he should leave. Although it would anger the ones close to him he should do what is best for him. If he goes to Reardon then he will have a much better education and maybe he will follow his dreams instead of falling short like everyone else on the Rez. This decision might the hardest decision of his life and he has to make alone in middle school.
ReplyDeleteJunior's reactions is completely appropriate. The he just threw a book at this teacher then the teacher tells him to leave it might be taken as an insult. Eventually when Mr. P explained to him what the teachers where taught I think that Junior finally realized. Also, Mr. P explained to Junior that he won't always have Rowdy or his parents to protect him. That some day Junior would get very badly hurt on the Rez and that he should get away from there soon so he doesn't have to go threw this.
ReplyDelete