Sherman Alexie Indian Rowdy Character Traits

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8. Often in works of literature, characters have a mixture of positive and negative traits.
From a work of literature you have read in or out of school, select a character who blends positive and negative traits. In a well-developed composition, identify the character, describe how the character demonstrates both positive and negative traits, and explain how the character’s traits are important to the work of literature.

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Rowdy’s Duality
Sherman Alexie’s comedic novel, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, tells the story of a boy, Junior, living on a Native American reservation with his best friend, Rowdy. Rowdy grows up in an abusive …show more content…

During the course of the story, Junior and Rowdy both tackle the theme of identity. This is especially clear when Junior abandons him and leaves the reservation school to attend a predominately white school in a nearby town. In Alexie’s novel, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, Rowdy is an aggressive character, but he uses this trait in a positive manner as he is also fiercely caring. This synthesis of positive and negative traits reveal that one's flaws can be good, and they allow for the separation and reunification of Rowdy and Junior in the novel.
In the novel, Rowdy’s main flaw is his over-aggression which leads to the severance of his relationship with Junior. In the beginning of the novel, Junior, the protagonist and Rowdy’s best friend, is describing Rowdy for the first time. Junior states, “He got into his first fistfight in kindergarten. He took on three first graders during a snowball fight because one of them had thrown a piece of ice. Rowdy punched them out pretty quickly. And then he punched the teacher who came to stop the fight” (Alexie 18). Rowdy’s impetuous actions convey his sizable sense of aggression. He is fueled by revenge because “one of them had thrown a piece of …show more content…

In the beginning of the novel, Junior is attacked and Rowdy responds, “I’m going to kill those bastards” (22). Rowdy is channeling his aggression into a more productive and positive form by protecting Junior. When he says “kill”, it conveys is extreme agitation that is hyperbolized, as it is unlikely he would actually murder someone. However, Rowdy still said it because someone hurt his friend. Therefore, Rowdy swears revenge on the “bastards” who did it; he uses an outdated and hurtful word which again displays his anger. So while he may take his threats of revenge too far, it is all with good intention as he is channeling his aggression into protection because he cares about Junior. So, Rowdy has proved his ability and desire to help Junior in the best way he knows, physically. This will help him in his relinking with Junior. At the end of the novel, Rowdy goes over to Junior’s house to rekindle their friendship. When he arrives, he asks Junior, “So you want to maybe shoot some hoops?” (228). Because of his aggression and fierceness, Rowdy does not convey his compassion with words. Instead, he opts for a competitive and physical bonding experience with Junior. Alexie’s use of diction in the phrase “want to maybe” expresses Rowdy’s nervousness when reuniting with Junior. He does not sound like the usual swaggering Rowdy; he sounds reluctant and afraid of what

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