Part Time Indian Analysis

Part Time Indian essay Determination is a driving force that enables people to succeed in life. In Sherman Alexie’s novel, The Absolutely true diary of a part time Indian, Arnold the protagonist, has a determination and will to succeed and escape the stereotype of Native Americans. Despite the many factors that were going against him, for example Poverty and the way he was raised. He walked to school everyday and battled the bullying and prejudice being dealt to him. He also had a strong determination to overcome his fear of rejection from Penelope and the other kids at Reardan. Poverty, identity and bullying alone can be enough to destruct a path to success, however, the determination Arnold has is enough to overcome all three components.
The way Arnold was raised, was the way most Indians on the reservation were raised . Arnold believes that Indians don’t get the same or as many chances as white or non-Indian kids do. After reading this novel by, Sherman Alexie, I could agree with him. In the book Arnold says “We reservation Indians don’t get to realize our dreams. We don’t get those chances. Or choices. We’re just poor. That’s all we are” (Alexie 13). I think that, that statement alone defines a big portion of the Indian stereotype and what most of them deal with. Throughout the novel, Arnold realizes his dreams and how badly he wants to achieve them.
He realizes that that he can’t reach his dreams or goals on the reservation. Everyone on the reservation does not have the determination he does. In the book one of Arnolds teachers at wellpinit on the reservation says “You’re going to find more and more hope the farther and farther you walk away from this sad, sad reservation” (Alexie 43). I think that after what his teacher told him, gave him the push that he needed to go to Reardan. A school that wasn’t on the reservation and with kids that are the total opposite of him. Reardan is a school that is made up of white students, teachers and parents. Because Reardan is filled with white people that don’t experience or have to deal with the things that Arnold does, the result is that they stereotype and bully him because of his differences. Arnold tries his hardest to fit in, but can’t because he doesn't have the same things as them. Although, towards the end and the middle of the novel, the kids at Reardan start to realize his determination as well, through his basketball skills and because of how smart he is.One person in particular is Penelope. Arnold has had a crush on her since he first saw her. Penelope didn’t really want anything to do with him at first because she also stereotyped him, but later started to develop feelings for Arnold as well. She was one of the main people who Arnold had determination to be better and get better,
especially in basketball. He also made a few new friends while at Reardan once they put stereotyping behind them. When Arnold went to Wellpinit high school on the reservation, he played basketball, and was one of the best players along with his best friend Rowdy. When he transferred to Reardan, he decided to try-out for their basketball team, even tho he thought he had no chance of even making C-team. He was afraid of getting stereotyped by the others players and coach. Although, when he tried out the basketball coach started to notice his talent and skill. Arnold went against one of the best and older kids on the team and did better than most. He was the only Freshman and Indian kid playing Varsity basketball at Reardan. Basketball was one of the main components that helped people not only at Reardan, put Arnold’s stereotype behind them. Because Arnold was one of the best players on the Varsity basketball team at Reardan, his team and coach expected more from him than at wellpinit, they had faith in him, which also helped him gain faith in himself. Arnold says “I’d always been the lowest Indian on the reservation totem pole - I wasn’t expected to be good so I wasn’t. But in Reardan, my coach and the other players wanted me to be good. They needed me to be good. They expected me to be good. So I became good.” (Alexie 180) Although there are many factors in Arnold’s life going against him, he had the determination to escape the stereotype of Native Americans.
He battled everything and was determined to overcome everything in his way. After reading this book and Arnold’s perspective on the Native American stereotype and the things that came along with it, I view the reservation differently. I didn’t grow up on the reservation and my family always had enough money to get the things we needed. On the reservation most families don’t get that, they’re barely getting by. While reading I had many different emotions going through me. Most of the book I was sad and felt bad about what Arnold was being dealt, but in other small parts of the book it also made myself feel determined. Arnold kept going even through his toughest times. The book also made me feel grateful. Kids on the reservation don’t get the same chances because of their stereotype and the way people view them. Therefore, this book made me feel differently about the reservation and the people on it and what they go through. This made me feel differently towards the Indian
stereotype.