An Analysis Of Sherman Alexie's The Absolutely True Diary Of A Part-Time Indian

A plethora of societal values are reflected within texts to compel audiences to develop didactic concerns for an empathetic perception. Sherman Alexie’s poignant first person narration, “The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian” (2007) highlights the adversities in the ever prevailing issue of class and money, racial discrimination, war with alcoholism that exist within the universal concerns resonating in modern context. The cumbersome & elongated title of this poignant novel mirrors the life of a hydrophilic child providing a central understanding for readers. As events in the modern novel progress from the perception of a fourteen-year-old American Indian, Junior’s language and inner reflections demonstrate his view of life around

As complexities of the social norm within American Indians become manifest, Sherman Alexie reflects hindrance in the adversity to attain an identity. Alexie utilises indirect language and a salacious tone to introduce Junior as a hydrocephalic, “my brain was drowning in grease” to highlight the self-actualisation of Junior, reduced to a mere portrayal of his identity centred around his physical impairment. As his past depicts an almost devoid identity, the present nature of the changes in his life encourages Arnold to attain an appropriate self-identity. Arnold’s pursuit for identity transgresses into trepidation and the midst of confusion when he expresses through emotive language and truncated sentences, “I cry because I’m crying. It’s weak. It’s the opposite of the warrior.” The perception of the protagonist’s American Indian cultural background relates to the pre-conceived identity of a warrior. Arnold, however lacks an exploration of connection with this identity and this leads to a hardship of confusion and angst. Alexie’s symbolic epitome of Arnold when his coach refers to him as a “secret weapon”, mirrors the strength Arnold develops in his identity. Arnold’s importance in the basketball game educes a connecting factor between Reardon and Wellpinit which allowed Arnold to encompass fundamental identities within White American and American Indian society. Alexie indicates Arnold’s sense of identity by connecting his past and present reminisces to depict a nature of self-actualisation and heightens the transience of finding an