A Part-Time Indian

Entering a new environment, especially when it comes to being a new student, can be terrifying, however, it can be further alarming when you are a minority. Being a minority in a large school population increases the student's chances of being rejected, bullied, and possibly harassed by their peers. In Sherman Alexie’s The Absolutely True Story of a Part-Time Indian, the difficulty of transferring schools is brilliantly conveyed when the protagonist, Arnold Spirit Jr., decides to break through the confinements of his racial status. Alexie’s work, directed toward minorities, effectively displays the protagonist’s struggle to adapt to a new social environment by utilizing significant visuals, illustrated by Ellen Forney.
The novel contains important
In the sketch, Arnold juxtaposes himself with the people surrounding him; the two races mutually scrutinizing each other on every physical detail. Without the image, the reader is merely given a small excerpt that reads, “Those white guys couldn’t believe their eyes. They stared at me like I was Bigfoot or a UFO” (57). The minimal amount of information revealed in the text draws away from the struggle Arnold is feeling at that moment. However, by utilizing the simple words and interpretive images, the reader is able to fully comprehend how the main character views himself in comparison to his other classmates. While comparing, Arnold advertises the physical differences between the whites and Indians, such as their attire and accessories. In addition, brief statements are composed throughout the entire list of diversities. These range from the cost of pants to differing backpacks, which further impacts the racial gap of the main character’s endeavor, in acclimating to his surroundings. Through the combination of visuals and text, Alexie enhances the overall effectiveness of his novel.
Overall, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian written by Sherman Alexie encompasses the protagonist’s struggle to adapt to his change of schools. He effectively displays this by using detailed visuals that support his text. The images also give the reader a better understanding of how the main character feels and how he views the situation at hand. Some of the many significant illustrations include Arnold’s portrait, his emotional experience with Rowdy, and his comparison of Indians and whites. If you were a minority, how would you accustom yourself to a new