Why does Junior say he would always love his tribe? What do you think this reveals about Junior?
I think Junior says this because he wants to show that even though he has left Wellpinit, he still likes Wellpinit and their community. Even though the Rez does not like him, Arnold still shows that he has affection for them. The Rez is the place where he grew up. His family lives there,his relatives, and his friends are there. This is the place where he spent the first few years of his life. Even though he goes to a white school, he is part of the Rez. Some of the kids do not like him because he left them. However, deep inside they care for him and they treat him as one of them. They prove it by showing up to his grandmother's funeral and let him mourn in peace. "No matter what else happened between my tribe and me, I would always love them for giving me peace on the day of my grandmother's funeral"(160).
Junior really cares for his tribe and he still feels he is one of them. He is not ashamed of his heritage. All he wants to do is become something better to show everybody that if you have passion and will for something, you can accomplish a lot. I believe that when he becomes successful, he will make sure that he returns something to his community.
1) Why do you think people did not bother him after his grandmother died?
2) Why was Arnold so sad/upset when Eugene died?
3)Why do you think Arnold felt helpless and stupid after Eugene died and Bobby hanged himself?
ReplyDeleteI think that people didn't bother Junior after his grandmother died out of respect. Arnold might be viewed as a "white lover" and a "traitor," but there are boundaries on the reservation. Even though many of the citizens of "the rez" are incredibly rude to Arnold, they are certainly aware of limits. They know that it is not their place to make fun of someone after losing one of the people closest to them. Almost everyone on the reservation knew who Grandmother was, and all who did know her respected her. The reason that they do not continue to make fun of Junior is because it is over their boundaries, and out of respect for Grandmother.
Arnold was upset that Eugene died because sadness and depression were breaking in on his family's walls from all angles. On another note, Eugene was one of the people from the reservation who didn't hate Arnold. He just keeps losing those who supported him, and a building without supporting columns will fall in on itself.
I think that Arnold felt helpless after Eugene died, and Bobby hanged himself because when people all around you start dying, you feel as if there is nothing you can do to stop it. If I am not mistaken, that is significantly close to the definition of hopeless.
I think that people did not bother Arnold after his grandmother died because they were debating if they were still going to treat him badly or if they had to let it go. Arnold just went through a hard time and it is hard to not feel bad for him. He had a special relationship with his grandmother and that is all gone now.
ReplyDeleteBecause even if he betrayed his tribe in a way that could never be forgiven, however, his grandmother had died. The entire Rez respected Grandma Spirit and knew the pain Arnold was going through at that time. He was still seen as a white lover however that day he was also a boy who had lost his grandmother. Loosing your grandmother is a lot worse than being a white lover.
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