Final draft for first essay on Alexie book

English 102

2/28/2014

MW 9:30-11:45

Anthony Galli

“Hope, Risks and the Consequences”

 

                 How through so much adversity does one young/brave boy deal with the hardships

most of us take for granted. He’s one of the most positive influences in this book, yet gets

“crap” delt to him throughout the novel. How in the world does he manage to stay level headed

(at times), though Sherman Alexie shows many emotions and acts from each of the influential people in

Juniors experiences. I look at it from this perspective; Grateful people have hope and tend to

take risks if not more than most. They go at life from a different perspective.  Junior decides to

“get at” life, though only knowing “the Rez” (reservation).

          

   Junior only knows the “Rez”, so why would he leave? Maybe he was tired of the

bullying by his peers. The Andrusses Jim,John and Joe tease and beat junior(page20-22). They”

knee him in the balls” call him an assortment of cruel names. Yet junior doesn’t get angry or

even vengeful. In fact, Rowdy in defense of junior vandalizes the brothers

out of spite and anger. The situation was a close friend sticking up for a close friend.

Rowdy has a huge defense mechanism for junior, and feels that if he protects him,

junior will not leave him. Maybe it was a courageous act caused by the talk Junior had with

Mr. P(32-43),Junior decides to leave anyway. Transferring schools overnight is a pretty crazy yet

courageous act by a young man that has little to no experience. Juniors attempt for a better life

caused him to leave the Rez to prevent himself from ending up like the people in Spokane

 

            Though there are a few static characters on the Rez, junior still has some influential

people that give him hope, wisdom or even happiness. His parents, though not the greatest of

influences, they still mean a lot to him. His father is an alcoholic as well as his mother who has

her bright moments. On juniors first day of school, obviously he was pretty shaken up, but his

dad gave him a ride and before junior left the car he said “those white people aren’t better than

you” (page 55) and to encourage him he said to junior “this is a great thing, you’re so brave,

you’re a warrior.” He stated this as an act of kindness to push him in the right direction.

 that’s what he needed to leave the car and start his “new life”. His grandmother is a

major influence on junior and even the story. She gives him light and laughter, even some of

her wisdom. Junior fought roger on his first day. Punching the toughest guy on campus, the

grandmother said” you should have walked away”

he then states his argument, she responds “then you should have kicked him in the balls”   

(page 68) . This was one of the lighter, easier  parts of the book to read. She was nothing but a

positive influence to junior. Which he must have loved and admired. I mean she teaches him

about respect that’s a huge part of life, respecting your peers.

 

                Transferring schools can’t be easy- socially for a young man that has never left what he

knows. What he goes through on a daily basis can greatly effect his attitude towards anyone or

even any situation. He, though has positive influence, has been bullied and taunted which shows

when he punches Roger, the big/popular senior on the first day. He also goes to Reardan with an

open mind. He has been influenced by multiple people at this point in the story (Grandma,

Rowdy, Mr. P, Eugene)  he has also influenced some people as well (sister). By this point he

really has to be vulnerable and even more than that fearful. Everything is new and to him and

his thought process for the most part is hostile. Not physically but mentally. It is awesome how

he is able to still focus on his goal in succeeding, but can still “fall half in love” and befriend

some people, he still has to deal with the reality back on the Rez. Rowdy his best friend “hates”

junior for leaving him his parents are still drinking themselves under. So really Reardan was

some sort of an escape for Junior. Even getting to school was an adventure. He would walk

hitchhike get rides from his parents on occasion. To us we would never even think about

hitchhiking to school as a 14 year old. These are things I’m sure we take for granted I speak for

myself when I say I only walked to school on occasion and it wasn’t 22 miles and I am positive I

would’ve never hitchhiked. He has such drive to succeed, but what keeps him going?

 

                 One thing for sure that is made as a prominent subject is alcoholism. It is one of

the many things junior deals with in his life. More Indians die because of drinking than any

other accident or cause of death to Indians. Almost every adult in this book from his family

drinks alcohol or is in fact intoxicated! His father would get drunk and hide the fact that he has

not raised his family the way he wanted, for instance Christmas. Mr. Spirit left for one week

took all the money they had for Christmas and “left on Christmas eve and came back on January

2^nd.” (page 150)Though what happens next was a softer moment between Junior and his father,

which could’ve turned for the worst, but for some reason he held back. He could have told his

father off and set him straight for taking the money and boozing with it. He didn’t and that

comes back to the positive influences like his grandmother and tolerance (her greatest feature)

she teaches him to forgive and forget in a sense. This is not something you see in 14 year old

boys now. He is extremely positive for the circumstances that un fold in this novel.

 

           There have been many traumatic things that happen to Arnold in this book, but what

takes the cake is the series of tragic/graphic deaths to juniors loved ones. In a matter of a few

weeks Arnolds grandmother, sister and fathers best friend die. Each more tragic than the next,

but the one that stood out was Grandmother Spirits death. Not because of what occurred, but

her last act before she passed which I think taught Arnold and the rest of the Spokane. That

tolerance and forgiveness are two major parts of what it is like to be a respectable person.

Before she passed she told Arnolds family to forgive the drunk driver! There first reaction was

anger as would most peoples first reaction would typically be. For some odd reason Junior kept

his composure to a certain extent, but that is only to be expected by a young man dealing with

trauma. After the passing of these wonderful characters Arnold still focuses on his goals of

graduating. He still plays basketball and eventually realizes that though there are many downs

there are the little things that you must enjoy. Staying in the moment. Like climbing a tree,

hearing a story told by a loved one, playing sports with friends. All while juggling his own

personal life and keeping a level head to keep going forward.

        

             Though through all the hardships all the deaths the experiences at Reardan and even his

love life, the sports, class and even the Rez junior has had it rough and still remains for the most

part very positive. He is someone a young boy or man could learn from and follow by example.

Even relate to some of these situations. Truly amazing what a grateful, young person with

hopes and humble beginnings, would take risks and get at life with a different positive

perspective.