The last chapters of the book has shown Arnold's growth and new understanding of his identity, but also they have shown how he has learned to never give up. The last few pages of the novel portray Arnold and Rowdy becoming good friends again, but Rowdy actually encourages Arnold to leave making it clear to him that their friendship is repaired and stronger then ever. “We didn’t keep score.” (230) Now that they are friends again Arnold has a stronger connection in the Rez, and a bigger source of hope. This makes him realize that he will always have a connection with his hometown, but his future will be in Reardan. As we have noticed in the last few chapters people at Reardan have really started to connect with Arnold, and when he went to school after his sister’s death “All sorts of boys and girls, and teachers, came up and hugged me and slapped my shoulder and gave me little punches in the belly.” (212) Arnold realizes that his life will most likely be in the direction of hope and good education while Rowdy will be stuck on the Rez for the rest of his life. On the last page of the novel rowdy says “Just make sure you send me postcards.” (230) This proves that Rowdy will never be able to leave the Rez, and maybe accepting his poverty while Arnold will reject any idea of poverty.
Arnold's double lives have taught him the importance of hope, and never giving up, because on the Rez he would never accept his poverty, and in Reardan he would always meet challenges with courage. These lessons have shown Arnold that he has hope, and that his life has a very good chance of taking a turn for the better, but that he will always have a piece of the Rez in his heart.
It seems evident that Arnold will most likely graduate high school and maybe even move on to college, but either way he has shown us the power of hope and ignoring stereotypes.
Questions:
Has anyone in your life shown great amounts of courage and hope? If so how is it similar or different from Arnold's situation?
Do you think Arnold will have a good future and even move on to college? Why or why not?
Who do you think are the most influential people in Arnold's life?
I agree with you that having Rowdy as a friend again will give him more hope. With Rowdy in his life again Arnold will now be happy on the rez and outside of the rez. Arnold now has support from his Reardan friends and his friend on the rez giving him more hope than ever. With this new found power Arnold will hopefully become motivated and get more serious about his grades and his sports. His family obviously cannot pay for college but Arnold will hopefully get a scholarship in basketball. That would be the ideal future for Arnold and with luck Arnold will pull himself and his family out of the vacuum of poverty. What are some alternative ways Junior could get into college? What you do if you wanted to go to college but you could not?
ReplyDeleteArnold has many influences in his life, some positive and some negative. Obviously, his family was a positive influence. His father demonstrated unconditional love, drunk or sober. His mother was there to comfort him. They gave him someone who loved him when he was feeling lost. I feel his sister unintentionally inspired him, because he saw her wasted potential and decided that he couldn't live like that. His grandmother taught him to be accepting and forgiving no matter what. Although Mr. P started a huge chapter in Arnold's life, I actually believe that he was a negative influence. This is because he made Arnold take significant steps backward in finding his identity. He told him to leave the rez, leave being Indian, which really took a toll on him. Roger, Penelope, and Gordy were obviously positive influences since they taught him that his perception of the world can be a little harsh. After he told them he was poor, he expected them to hate him when they really just cared for him more. Coach was also a very positive influence because he believed in Arnold when it seemed no one on the rez did. He also taught him not to run from his emotions, but to use them as fuel. Lastly, Rowdy. Even though he really complicated things and made Arnold feel pretty awful, he essentially gave him the space to find himself. He alsfo reconnected him to his culture, whether he meant to or not.
ReplyDeleteDo you think Arnold will have a good future and even move on to college? Why or why not?
ReplyDeleteI think Arnold will have a good future and will go to college, even though he might have to work really hard for it. As we have seen throughout the novel Arnold is very determined and when he wants to do something he will make it happen. After all he is returning to Reardan, and he did ask Rowdy again - even if things went terribly the last time he tried. He says "you could come to Reardan with me," (229) when he is talking about where to go to school next year. We also see in a comic that Arnold draws on page 214. It shows his report card and Arnold has worked hard and has gotten good grades. If he continues a this rate he will go to college. Really, the only thing stopping him is how much money he has. I predict that won't be a problem as we can tell colleges don't see Indians applying much, but they can get a scholarship. I think that is what will happen to Arnold as he does have potential, and many white adults are realizing that (such as Coach). Also Rowdy describes a dream he has to Arnold in the final scene of the novel. He mentions Arnold as the only nomad of the tribe. He says he sees Arnold on The Great Wall of China. This is a sign of a good future for Arnold.
I think that Arnold will have a very successful life and go on to college. I say this because at the end of the book he hangs out with Rowdy a lot and you can tell he is gaining hope. Also I think he will succeed to avenge Mary and his grandmas death and those tragedies will drive him to succeed. I think every year he stays at Reardan makes new friends and stays together with Penelope will give him drive and hope.
ReplyDeleteWho do you think are the most influential people in Arnold's life?
ReplyDeleteMr. P is definitely one of the most influential people in Arnold's life. Mr. P was the reason Arnold went to Reardan and is getting a higher level of education. He is the one who realized that Arnold has a lot of potential. By going to Reardan a new world opened in front of him and his future looks much brighter.
Arnold's basketball Coach also played a major role in his life. He saw his strengths and capabilities. He encouraged him to overcome him weakness and believe in himself. He made him a basketball star which gained him confidence. He was an unknown indian boy, who rose to be one of the most popular kids in a big school.