Marxism and An Absolutely true story of
Junior’s Journey: An Exploration of Marxism On and Off the Reservation
By Tony Ventola
LIT 650
Junior’s Journey: An Exploration of Marxism On and Off the Reservation
By Tony Ventola
Introduction
Sherman Alexie is Native American poet, novelist and filmmaker. He was born in 1966 on the Spokane Indian Reservation in Wellpinit, Washington. Much of Alexie’s body of work revolves around themes of American/Indian relations, alcoholism, poor living conditions, violence and many other challenges that come from living life on an Indian Reservation. Alexie does an excellent job of balancing out these serious subjects with a sense of humor and satire, which helps underscore a message of hope even in the darkest of times.
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian focuses heavily on this idea of “hope.” The main character, Junior, is presented with the classic hero’s journey to find hope in a desolate world. Yet Junior will not go on to face intergalactic battle stations, wicked witches or super powered villains. Instead, Junior will have to do battle against centuries old cultural and societal struggles, poverty, and racism. Junior sets out to find hope amongst these challenges, and as his teacher, Mr. P tells him “You’re going to find more and more hope the farther and farther you walk away from this sad, sad, sad reservation.” (Alexie 43)
Having grown up on the Spokane reservation, then living a life as a successful writer, Alexie has to benefit of being able to analyze the culture of the American Indian versus the culture of “the white man” and see the vast differences in them, as well as their similarities. For this reason, among others, it is important to look at Alexie’s work with the cultural eye of the Marxist literary theory. Karl Marx sought to call out, define and ultimately fix the vast divides between social classes. While Marx was dealing with the bourgeoisie in Europe, Junior has to deal with the “hicks and rednecks” of Reardan High School.
By Tony Ventola
LIT 650
Junior’s Journey: An Exploration of Marxism On and Off the Reservation
By Tony Ventola
Introduction
Sherman Alexie is Native American poet, novelist and filmmaker. He was born in 1966 on the Spokane Indian Reservation in Wellpinit, Washington. Much of Alexie’s body of work revolves around themes of American/Indian relations, alcoholism, poor living conditions, violence and many other challenges that come from living life on an Indian Reservation. Alexie does an excellent job of balancing out these serious subjects with a sense of humor and satire, which helps underscore a message of hope even in the darkest of times.
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian focuses heavily on this idea of “hope.” The main character, Junior, is presented with the classic hero’s journey to find hope in a desolate world. Yet Junior will not go on to face intergalactic battle stations, wicked witches or super powered villains. Instead, Junior will have to do battle against centuries old cultural and societal struggles, poverty, and racism. Junior sets out to find hope amongst these challenges, and as his teacher, Mr. P tells him “You’re going to find more and more hope the farther and farther you walk away from this sad, sad, sad reservation.” (Alexie 43)
Having grown up on the Spokane reservation, then living a life as a successful writer, Alexie has to benefit of being able to analyze the culture of the American Indian versus the culture of “the white man” and see the vast differences in them, as well as their similarities. For this reason, among others, it is important to look at Alexie’s work with the cultural eye of the Marxist literary theory. Karl Marx sought to call out, define and ultimately fix the vast divides between social classes. While Marx was dealing with the bourgeoisie in Europe, Junior has to deal with the “hicks and rednecks” of Reardan High School.
Cited: Alexie, Sherman. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. New York: Hachette Book Group, 2007. Birchall, Ian H. "Marxism and Literature." Sociological Review (1977): 92. Daly, Glyn. "Marxism and Postmarxism." Year 's Work in Critical and Cultural Theory (2002): 14-25. Eagleton, Terry. "Marxist Literary Criticism." Sociological Review (1977): 85-91. Evans, Stephen F. ""Open Containers": Sherman Alexie 's Drunken Indians." The American Indian Quarterly 25.1 (2001): 46-72. Marx, Karl. "Wage Labor and Capital." Rivkin, Julie and Michael Ryan. Literary Theory: An Anthology. Malden: Blackwell Publishing, 2004. 659-664. Nelson, Joshua B. ""Humor Is My Green Card" A Conversation with Sherman Alexie ." World Literature Today 84.4 (2010): 38-43. Rivkin, Julie and Michael Ryan. Literary Theory: An Anthology. 2nd Edition. Malden: Blackwell Publishing, 2004.