Change is seen profoundly throughout the novel The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. This is primarily seen through the character of Junior, who experiences change as he transforms from a traditional Native American child to a self-advocating, hopeful individual. In the beginning of the novel, Junior attends the school on the Spokane Indian Reservation, the reservation in which he lives. At this point in time, Junior is a typical Native American child. He constantly desires the opportunity to change his life for the better and to provide himself with an opportunity for a successful future. Being a Native American, however, has held him back. When Junior was at school one day, it is stated in the novel, “Yep, so that means I was staring at a geometry book that was at least thirty years older than I was. [...] My school and my tribe are so poor and sad that we have to study from the same dnag books our parents studied from. That is absolutely the saddest thing in the world” (Alexie 31). This quote shows how the education received by the Native Americans on the reservation is lacking, lessening Junior’s opportunities for success in the future.
The primary change is Junior’s move from this poor, decrepit Native American school to a strong, well-functioning high school in a nearby town, Reardan High School. At this new school, the educational opportunities were much stronger. This move caused the relationships that Junior had created with other Native Americans on the reservation to diminish, however. For example, the relationship held between Junior and his best friend Rowdy was immediately removed. The text states, “[Rowdy] coughed and turned away from me. I touched his shoulder. Why did I touch his shoulder? I don’t know. I was stupid. Rowdy spun around and shoved me. ‘Don’t touch me, you retarded fag!’ he yelled” (Alexie 52). As shown by this, many Native Americans felt that Junior was abandoning his tribe and its history by attending the school in Reardan. The public reception about Junior’s leave was largely negative and required Junior to be able to overcome this.
As a result of Junior’s change in school, his character changed dramatically. He gained confidence in his new school through overcoming the obstacles related with being a new student. Initially, Junior faced criticism and ignorance of his presence at a school that was attended by no other Native Americans. He was teased or ignored by every student in the school. After a debacle with a student named Roger, however, where Junior planned to attack him, he began to gain the respect of his peers. Soon this respect turned into a universal liking for him, allowing him to have confidence in himself at his new school. Because of this confidence, he was able to focus on the aspects of his schooling that would help improve his life in the future. He was prepared to be a well-educated, contributing member of society, directly contrasting with his peers at the reservation school. This stark difference shows how Junior changed throughout the novel, as he would have mirrored these peers if he had not gone to the school in Reardan.
The primary change is Junior’s move from this poor, decrepit Native American school to a strong, well-functioning high school in a nearby town, Reardan High School. At this new school, the educational opportunities were much stronger. This move caused the relationships that Junior had created with other Native Americans on the reservation to diminish, however. For example, the relationship held between Junior and his best friend Rowdy was immediately removed. The text states, “[Rowdy] coughed and turned away from me. I touched his shoulder. Why did I touch his shoulder? I don’t know. I was stupid. Rowdy spun around and shoved me. ‘Don’t touch me, you retarded fag!’ he yelled” (Alexie 52). As shown by this, many Native Americans felt that Junior was abandoning his tribe and its history by attending the school in Reardan. The public reception about Junior’s leave was largely negative and required Junior to be able to overcome this.
As a result of Junior’s change in school, his character changed dramatically. He gained confidence in his new school through overcoming the obstacles related with being a new student. Initially, Junior faced criticism and ignorance of his presence at a school that was attended by no other Native Americans. He was teased or ignored by every student in the school. After a debacle with a student named Roger, however, where Junior planned to attack him, he began to gain the respect of his peers. Soon this respect turned into a universal liking for him, allowing him to have confidence in himself at his new school. Because of this confidence, he was able to focus on the aspects of his schooling that would help improve his life in the future. He was prepared to be a well-educated, contributing member of society, directly contrasting with his peers at the reservation school. This stark difference shows how Junior changed throughout the novel, as he would have mirrored these peers if he had not gone to the school in Reardan.