Junior says
that the night of the winter formal was one of the “best nights of his life”
because it was the night that he realized that his friends really care about
him, and that the stereotypes he’d associated with them weren’t all true.
Before the dance he was worried about not being able to pay for Penelope’s night,
but more so that she would leave him if she found out he is poor. He assumed
that since she and Roger were white that once he became ‘more Indian’ they
would no longer like him. Instead, they accepted him and went out of their way
to help him.
Although
this was undoubtedly a good night, it must’ve been a confusing one as well. His
whole life he has been told that for white people to like him he needs to “change
the way you look, the way you talk, and the way you walk” (81). In other words,
he had believed that the only path to any kind of success was to pretend. Now
that he realizes that’s not true, it is almost as if his whole world has
unraveled. He’d relied upon that fact for years, and suddenly his whole basis
of the world has proven to be wrong.
- Do you have any stereotypes about people? How did you learn them?
- How do you think this night will affect Junior long term?
- If you were in the position of Roger or Penelope, would you have
reacted similarly? Why or why not?
- Do you think that Junior should have told them sooner? Should he
have not told them at all?
Do you think that Junior should have told them sooner? Should he have not told them at all?
ReplyDeleteI think that Junior told them at the right time. Before, no one was questioning his identity, and how poor he is. Without this, there would be nothing pushing him to the truth, because its a hard thing to admit, and if he did tell people, it seemed that it would hurt his popularity, and he would loose his relationship with Penelope.
I believe that not telling them at all isn't an option. At one point or another, something similar to not having enough money at Denny's was ought to happen. If he was questioned about his poorness, and he said that he wasn't poor, that would lead him into an even bigger lie. The kids at Rearden would end up figuring out that he is poor, and things would be even worse, because he had lied.
I agree with you that Junior really likes his friends, but before this night Junior felt that he must go to reardan because he needed to get away from the rez but now he really likes reardan. He may be different but at least he feels that he fits in. Junior seemed to be slipping and falling into stereotyping himself into being a poor Indian who cannot do anything except to fall deeper into the grasp of poverty. With his newfound friends they are getting on his feet and starting to help him from the crisis he is in. How would you react to not having enough money for a picture?
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ReplyDeleteDo you think that Junior should have told them sooner? Should he have not told them at all?
ReplyDeleteI think Junior should have told them sooner, but it was very hard for him to. Junior says that "I couldn't lie to her anymore," (127). Junior was under pressure at his new school the since he had arrived. He felt as he needed to be similar to fit in, as if they were apart of Reardans "unwritten rules". As the fake truth starts to become true, Junior decides its fine to let it be that way because he is popular. As time goes on, it becomes harder and harder for him to lie. So, Junior should have told the truth earlier because he needs to embrace his identity to be at peace with himself. Junior wants to find a place of hope and future and Reardan is part of that place. But accepting himself is an even bigger part. I think he should have told them earlier, but it was very very hard for him to do so.
I do have stereotypes about people. Everybody does. Of course, they were taught to me. There is a big difference in your beliefs and taught beliefs. The society that we live in today teaches us to listen to, and create our own stereotypes, many of them false.
ReplyDeleteI think that this night will effect Arnold forever. The fact that his that Arnold had very low confidence until a beautiful girl started dating him. That has built his confidence a lot, and he will likely second guess himself less from now on.
If I was in Roger or Penelope's position, I would have reacted almost the same. I can honestly say that I don't care how much money people have, and I would tell that to Arnold. I would say that if you need anything ask me. However, after that, I wouldn't talk about very much. I would understand that Arnold presumably doesn't want to talk about it very much.
I don't think that Arnold should have told them sooner. This belief is because talking about your wealth is a topic that you tell your best friends when the time comes. Arnold had a good time to admit to it, and his friends accepted him for who he is. They didn't care about his wealth.
Junior should have told Roger and Penelope sooner, but it would not matter in the end, because they would have found out about his financial situation anyways. If he told them sooner, he would have gained their trust and friendship earlier, so they would always have his back. When Junior first told Penelope, he thought she would leave his life and he would be lonely. "But she didn't" (127), leaving him relieved, but he was still terrified of her leaving his life, and he could have avoided that by telling them earlier. Junior may be able to postpone his disclosure about his wealth (he has none), but he has to confess, whether he likes it or not. If he does not speak, he is being dishonest, which is not an ideal friendship trait. Also, when people find out later, nobody will want to be friends with 'the liar'.
ReplyDeleteI think that Junior told his friends at the perfect time. The timing is part of what made it "the best night of his life." If he had told his friends sooner, it might have felt like he was looking for charity, when all he wants to do is fit in. If he had done it later, the people at Reardan wouldn't trust him anymore. With Penelope, it wouldn't have mattered. She loves Junior for who he is, and whether he is rich or poor doesn't matter to her. She stayed with him (and kissed him) after he told her. also, it would have been very hard to tell them either sooner or later, because he was under so much pressure to spin an elaborate story. But a simple question, "Are you poor?" gave him the opportunity to choose truth or lies, and Junior chose truth.
ReplyDeleteJunior told his friends at the exact right time. If Junior had told them earlier it might have made it harder to fit in because it would look like he was poor and asking for sympathy. Telling them then he new they wouldn't mind because they are his friends and if they did care then they weren't really his true friends. So telling them this night guaranteed that they wouldn't care and he would finally be able to expose himself without being worried about someone finding him out all the time. He left it all out on the table.
ReplyDeleteEver since Junior started school at Rearden he has constantly been concealing his past to become someone that is is not. If Arnold had come out about this aspect of his life sooner people may have come to conclusions without even meeting him. On the other hand, if he had waited any longer then he would have told too many lies for anyone to ever trust him. For this reason, I believe that he should have told people about this aspect of his life a little bit sooner because of how he has already been accepted into their school. If his wealth determined how Penelope or Roger felt about him then they might not have really been his friends, but because of how they stayed I imagine that they will be friends much longer. The "secret" would have been hard to keep in for much longer and if he had kept it in that may cause unforeseen consequences.
ReplyDeleteDo you think that Junior should have told them sooner? Should he have not told them at all?
ReplyDeleteI understand why Arnold did not tell his friends that he was poor and didn't have a supportive family. This made him feel insecure and scared that he would lose his friendships, and most important Penelope. "I figured it wouldn't do me any good if they knew I was dirt poor(119). I think he should not have hidden his family background and should have opened up to his friends. Everyday he was worried that his friends may find out, and he was living a life that was fantasy. If his fiends knew earlier, they would still be supportive if they really cared. Where as now, he was taking the chance of losing all the important people in his life because they would not trust him. He is not affected now, but in the long run, he may pay for his hidden secrets.
I think that it would've been tough for Arnold to tell his friends about him being poor because he didn't want them to stop being friends with him because of it. I think if he had known that his friends would still accept him even though he was poor, than he might've told them earlier, but I understand him not telling them. I also think he would've had to tell them eventually, and because they asked him, it was good that he told the truth. I definitely think that he would've had to tell them at some point.
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