Fuel The Spirit
Heros are fearless individuals who not only have stamina, but also thrive in adversity. In Sherman Alexie’s The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, Alexie underscores how an Indigenous teen named Arnold ‘Junior’ Spirit undergoes various social and mental challenges as he struggles to fit into his community and new school. Through Junior’s courage, he is willing to make unusual choices that seem to have negative outcomes. Junior can also recover from conflicts quickly and is able to become stronger because he is resilient. In addition to resilience, Junior is he is motivated. Ultimately, Junior can be considered a hero because he has the courage, resilience, and motivation to allow him to overcome the obstacles. As a result of his heroism, he is able to benefit from the experiences.
To begin, Junior uses his courage to do what is seen as precarious by his community, but he knows that it is for his own benefit. During the call to action, his Caucasian mathematics teacher, Mr. P, tells him to leave the reservation that he lives in, so he can prevent
…show more content…
A hero should be able to overcome obstacles and gain something from it. Junior being courageous and go against what is seen as logical for someone like him drives him to make more decisions that seems to have a negative outcome, but ultimately has a positive one instead. Although it might seem extremely tempting to give up, resilience will yield a payoff that is worth all the blood, sweat and tears. Furthermore, motivation from anyone will push an individual to their limits to find out what they can do. Junior demonstrates these traits to find a better life, and to do that, he must experience harsh times. Adversities will be a part of every life, but an individual would have to decide if they would allow it to destroy them, or stand their ground to be a
A new level of expectations and accomplishments came about Junior when he moved to Reardan. He finally had somewhere to have a fresh start where people didn’t know what he was capable of, nor did anyone have a presumption set for Junior. With this new chapter in his life and new beginnings Junior had become someone he never had a chance to be at the Reservation. Junior was smart, intellectual, confident, observant and had a completely different mentality. Thanks to some very important people at Reardan like Gordy and Junior’s basketball coach, they were able to mentor and drive Junior to be the person he was ultimately trying to become. Gordy was an intelligent young man in Junior 's life who was able to connect books to some life morals. Because of Gordy, Junior finally made his own realization that “if every moment of a book should be taken seriously, then every moment of life should be taken seriously as well” (95). At this moment in the book, Junior started to realize there was meaning to his life; why not enjoy it doing the things you love and are passionate about. One passion in
Sherman Alexie, in “Indian Education” tells his experiences in school on the reservation. Some of his teachers did not treat him very good and did not try to understand him. In his ninth grade year he collapsed. A teacher assumed that he had been drinking just because he was Native American. The teacher said, “What’s that boy been drinking? I know all about these Indian kids. They start drinking real young.” Sherman Alexie didn’t listen to the negatives in school. He persevered and became valedictorian of his school.
In ''The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian'', Arnold spirit, who is an Indian boy, lives on a Spokane Indian Reservation with alchoholic parents. Adding to that, he is a hydrocephalic, which has affected his speaking ability and he had to deal with being bullied and getting picked on in school. However, he wants to overcome these challenges and move on in life to something better, because he is dissatisfied with the situation he is in. Later in the story, he decides to go to a white school where he begins feeling like a part-time indian.
Growing up on a reservation where almost everyone has lost hope, Junior feels like an outcast for having a passion to chase after his dreams. When he moves to Reardan to find hope, he is gawked at and teased because he is the only Indian there. Junior faces internal conflicts within himself figuring out how to balance his two selves. According to Junior, “traveling between Reardan and Wellpinit, between the little white town and the reservation, [he] always felt like a stranger. [Junior] was half Indian in one place and half white in the other. It was like being Indian was [Junior’s] job, but it was only a part-time job. And it didn’t pay well at all” (Alexie 118). Junior is determined to discover his identity as it is evident in his choice of words. Feeling like a stranger wherever he goes, he believes that he is too white for the reservation while being too Indian for Reardan. The people on the reservation live in an atmosphere where they trust only each other and stick up for one another. However, when Junior goes to the reservation after being exposed to a community filled with white people, the Spokane’s do not see him as a true Indian anymore, hence the reason why Junior
Do you think looking forward and trying to change a bad situation into a good one for having a better life is a wrong decision? The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian is a novel written by Sherman Alexie. The novel is about Arnold Spirit; everyone calls him Junior. He is a teenage boy with a tough life who lives with his family in poverty on a Spokane Indian reservation in Wellpinit, Washington. He hates living in poverty and wants something better for himself. “I feel like I might grow up to be somebody important. An artist”(6) he claims. His living conditions are horrible; he studies in a school with a lack of resources. He considered the different aspects of moving to Reardan, he struggled about leaving
The initial turning point that encourages Junior to maximize his ambition and ignore the negative critiques from his family members and friends on the reservation is his conversation with his teacher, Mr.P. Mr.P says to Junior, “You’ve been fighting since you were born...You kept your hope. And now, you have to take your hope and go somewhere with it.” This quote demonstrates the ambition that Junior is soon to acquire, his teacher helps him realize he has the ability to change and go against the common standards of his close companions. Junior has been constantly battling the stereotypes that exist within the reservation. This conversation served as a catalyst that helped create a sense of ambition in Junior that he’s always had. What makes
Sherman Alexie is a Native American man who is well known for his novels and short stories based on his experiences as a member of many different Native American tribes. In his short story “Indian Education”, Alexie details the struggles with bullying and discrimination one Native American boy went through during his time in school. Although “Indian Education” is written differently from other short stories it still conveys a solid theme and has a well written plot. Alexie’s style is also a benefit to the reader as they make their way through grade school with the main character, Victor.
The very being of heroism itself could go on and on in concept, except, when contemplated on heroism is really based off the views of the people, by the virtue of the society who unconsciously decided that you are a hero, and who has been inspired by these ‘heros’ to be better in themselves. With this subconsciously implicated into their minds, what is actually really true about a hero? This can only be answered through the hero’s own virtues, a precedent being the quote “Each person is different,” these four simple words are important because they prove how each hero is different, making how a hero is a hero different making how they affect each person differently, whether the hero is real or not. Exemplifying how heroism is measured by who
Some individuals living in poverty with a determination to succeed work hard all of their lives to become what everybody doubted they could. Despite of their financial problems, drug and crime surroundings, or difficulties in the language skills, their desire to triumph fuels their persistence. Those who make it to success are the few living examples of the purest form of hero anyone can be. They are not only their own heroes but also the heroes of the poor children who dream of becoming like them someday.
The youngest hero and Junior both demonstrated many strengths in their lives. Both men wanted to help people and make life better for them. The youngest prince was very helpful and tried his best when people needed his help unlike his brothers. Junior learned from his mistakes and taught his brother not to make the mistakes he did. But, each of them are heroes in their own way. Since both of them are not true stories they are not talked about today. But, both of them demonstrate what it takes to be a hero. These two heros, The youngest prince and Junior also faced some big challenges.
Introduction- A hero is a man who puts others before him because he wants to make friends. A hero is confident in himself, sometimes they will be willing their lives for the greater good. They try to stay persistent when it comes to them doing something.How do we know when is someone is a hero? When they face challenges with pure determination, but don’t save or satisfy everyone in the end. It blows us away every time a hero can fix a sticky situation, but it is more important to know what the hero is doing for the protection of everyone else.
How we act or react in difficult situations defines our persona. Sometimes these situations provide opportunities to be a hero. After reading Grant Wiggins’s own definition of a hero, it is apparent that Grant becomes a hero. Grant states, “A hero is someone who does something for other people. He does something that other men don’t and cant to. He is different from other men. He is above other men. No matter who those other men are, the hero, no matter who he is, is above them.” Grant becomes a hero by earning an education to become a teacher, undergoing psychological changes, and counseling Jefferson to die with dignity.
The theme of heroism is a subjective concept dependent on an individual’s values and morals. It is a notion that is influenced by stereotypes and fiction in order to create an ideal role model to follow. People who are heroes are considered to be: chivalrous, compassionate, selfless, brave, courageous, physically and mentally strong, just, fearless, and much more. Essentially, it is a societal concept based on a collective judgment of someone’s actions on a day-to-day basis or in a time of need. By declaring a person a “hero”, society immortalizes the person’s deeds as valiant and thus creates a model by which to follow. However, it is uncommon to find a hero who agrees with society’s ruling. In order to achieve the status of a hero, a person must sacrifice something dear to him or her. Regardless if the sacrifice is mental, physical, or spiritual, the price of it takes a toll on the hero’s sanity.
Heroism has numerous meanings whether defined by physical, mental or acts of bravery. In comparison to Campbell’s Heroes With A Thousand Faces, this section will address Lebron James, my hero and his relevance to Campbell’s hero stages. Lebron James serves two stages identified by Campbell. In the fourth stage, “Meeting with the Mentor” Campbell explains how a “hero
Heroism is a word that is difficult to define. Anyone can be considered a hero; it could be someone with special abilities, flying around in a cape and saving the world. A hero could also be an ordinary person, like a firefighter, risking their lives to save people from a burning building. But just because someone does something daring, doesn’t mean they are a hero. A hero must be selfless, courageous, and clever. In the short story, “A Mystery of Heroism” by Stephen Crane, the theme what it means to be an american hero is explored. Fred Collins is a member of a company who is trapped in the middle of an intense battle. Thirsty, Collins escapes from safety, and makes a break for a well across the battlefield, returning with the water, only for it to be spilled. Fred Collins, a soldier from the story “A Mystery of Heroism” by Stephen Crane, is not an American Hero because he behaved foolishly and irrationally, he was not admired for his actions, and he only did it out of spite or to prove a point.