In Sherman Alexie’s written text, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, readers follows the journey of a teen protagonist named Junior; on his quest for belonging in this world. In the novel, realistic depiction of adolescent life and the social conditions of Native Americans as a minority is shown to the audience. However, the entertainment value of the text is heightened with the presentation of Junior’s surroundings, which create suspense and interest, thereby keeping readers engaged. Themes such as friendship, identity crisis, alcoholism, and violence, create the precipice for these young adolescent audiences to connect them to the text. Alexie …show more content…
Junior struggles to mindfully understand whether he belongs with Native American or White Caucasian mainstream society. While plagued with this notion of belonging, he was condemned as a cultural traitor by his people while at Reardan he is seen as a stray animal. These two examples are what isolation forced upon a child would seem like. Understanding that, readers can establish a deeper consideration of the situation as ideally each person would have experienced isolation once. With the addition of the powerful emotional tool empathy, the author is able to heighten the entertainment value of this text. In turn, the text allows for one to question one’s own reaction towards isolation and social …show more content…
The author uses this theme to highlight that buddy-cop connection between the characters in the novel and the friends you hold dear. This feeling of closeness radiating from the friendship of these boys is why the dialogue between them might seem to be rude or even crude on some occasion, but nevertheless, it does show the authenticity and realism which reflect “their lingo”.
Alexie uses alcohol and violence to intentionally connect the reader’s experiences and the effects of abuse it has on the novel interpretation of the characters witnessing the effects of these substances on one’s community. This comparison makes one question as to why those that drink would force physical pain towards loved one. Within the novel, it would seem that if your parents are entrapped into the cycle of abuse and sad drunks then there is a possibility that it will overwhelm you. This becomes apparel in the latter part of the novel, like when Junior finds out about the death of his sister.
‘I was crying because I knew five or ten or fifteen more Spokane’s would die during the next year and that most of them would die because of booze.’
(pg.