When Junior says this, it implies that he has never left the life on the rez, that he was always connected to it. Even though everybody on the Rez usually beat him up and called him names, the rez was his home. In the chapter "Red Versus White", Junior says, "on the rez, you know every kids's father, mother, grandparents, dog, cat, and shoe size" (153). This shows that no matter the differences between two people on the rez, they were still close to each other. There is also another great quote that proves the Indians are all connected in some ways like they are one single person. "Each funeral was a funeral for all of us. We lived and died together" (166). The Indians feel each other's pains. They immediately stopped harassing Junior when they knew his grandmother had died. Junior loves the rez because of the connections between everybody.
Junior also implies that even though everybody on the rez thinks Junior betrayed them, Junior himself thinks he was just fulfilling his dream. Junior's heart had never left the rez. He had always hoped that he and Rowdy would someday become best friends again. He had always hoped that people will stop hating him and beating him up. Junior has never stopped trying to prove that he has not betrayed his people, and that he had only did what he had to. He would never betray the rez. His home.
Which side do you think Junior will support if Reardan and Wellpinit High got into an argument? Why? Do you think Junior has actually betrayed his tribe? Or that he still loves it? What would you do in Junior's situation?
I agree with Philip, although I am slightly confused about Junior's feelings for the rez. As shown through the respect and sense of community of the rez, Junior believe that he still "belongs" to them and it will always be his home. Even though he was bullied and harrassed as a "traitor" by the other Indians, they provided him peace and support when his grandmother died, which showed how tight-knit the community was. It was clear that Junior was still connected to his life in the rez, but did not seem during the basketball game in the previous reading. Through his act of courage during the basketball game, it seemed clear that Junior had put the rez behind him, faced his fear of confronting his previous classmates, and had found a new sense of identity and belonging at Reardan. To back up his association with Reardan, he had a very personal and friendly conversation with his coach, showing his newly developed trust in white people. I think these two events contradict each other, but I am sure there will be a concluding event later in the book that will clear any doubts or skepticism on where Junior's identity truly belongs.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Philip and Julian. As a reader you get a sense that Arnold still belongs on the rez, because he still lived there and was a part of the community. Arnold said, “I would always love them for giving me peace on the day of my grandmother’s funeral”(160). This shows he loved his tribe because they understand how he was feeling from losing his grandmother. I did not feel Arnold betrayed the rez because he still lived there. He also didn’t betray the rez because he just transferred schools he didn’t like permanently leave everyone and never come back. Arnold was just trying to get hope, he didn’t transfer to the villain's side. If Reardan and Wellpinit High School got into an argument Arnold would be on Wellpinit side, because he still loved the rez. Arnold could possibly be on Reardan side depending on the situation of the argument. Do you think the majority of the rez hates Arnold?
ReplyDeleteI agree with everyone above. The rez is the first and only place that Junior has ever called home. People might not like him there, but there's nothing he can change about that. It's hard to say which side Junior would pick if it was against Reardon and Wellpint, I honestly think it depends what the arguments about. I think that Junior is fair, and that he'd pick the side that he thinks is correct.
ReplyDeleteTo me Junior didn't betray his tribe. He's making it stronger by going out and doing something with his life. Once he makes it out in the world people will see where he came from and there might not be as many stereotypes about the rez. Do you think Junior is going to stay strong even with all the deaths in his life?
I do not think that Junior betrayed his tribe in any way. For example, when he went to Rearden, everyone was hating on him and calling him names. Junior had the better side of things because even though everyone hated him where he lived, he still got everything he needed from Rearden. He got courage, strength, friendships, and hope. An example of all of these can be shown on pages (175-176). Alexie shows Junior's courage when he talked back to the teacher after she said something cruel. He shows Junior's new friendships when all of his classmates stuck up for him. He shows his strength by sticking up for himself and following his classmates out of the room. Lastly, he shows Junior's hope by making all the lists of his favorite things in life. If Reardan and Wellpinit High got into an argument I think that ever since his grandmothers death, he wouldn't be part of the argument but he would be trying to settle it equally. If it was before the death of his grandmother, I think he would have chosen to be on the Rearden side because everyone from the rez were showing him that they didn't like him anymore and everyone from Rearden were accepting him. I think it was easier for him to be accepted by the Rearden kids than by the rez kids because he still didn't belong on the rez even though he lived there his whole life and he was accepted by the Rearden kids in about 3-5 days.
ReplyDeleteI believe that Junior would be stuck in between a rock and a hard place if Reardan and the rez clashed. He would struggle to decide which side to take. Right now, Junior is truly a part time indian. At home, he sides with the rez. Yet at school, he sides with Reardan. Even though the rez calls him a traitor and was mass shamed, they still support Junior when his grandmother died. Junior is a traitor in the eyes of many rezidents (get it?!). Mary ran away, but the tribe did not consider her to be a traitor. A good example of this are all the lists. He puts Penelope at the very bottom of the list, showing that the rez, his home, is the most important to him. He also puts all his parents, rez friends, and songs they like at the tops of lists.
ReplyDelete