The Absolutely True Diary Of A Part-Time Indian By Sherman Alexie

The Absolutely True Character Traits of a Part-Time Indian

“I was half Indian in one place and half white in the other. It was like being Indian was my job, but it was only a part-time job. And it didn't pay well” (118). This quote comes from book The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie. In this novel, Junior, the main character who says the previous quote, betrays his tribe by leaving his reservation to get a better education in nearby small white town. Junior faces great hardships and tragedies as he struggles to both achieve his dreams, and discover where he fits into society. Junior shows strong character traits throughout the book, including his determination, aspiration, and wise perception of the world.

One of Junior's most striking traits is his determination. Junior faces many challenges living the life of a poor ‘part-time Indian,’ however he does not let this bring him down. His determination is portrayed when Junior refuses to give up during the basketball tryouts, even though it may seem impossible. ​“Ninety percent of me wanted to take the break. But I knew if I took that break I would never make the team. ‘I'll take him on again’ ”(140). Despite his fear and acknowledgment of the odds, Junior does not give up. Juniors determination also shows when he refuses to quit at his first basketball game, against his former team at the rez. Junior is cut by a flying coin thrown by a spectator. Instead of going to the hospital for stitches, Junior asks to be stitched up by his family friend Eugene. Afterwards Junior goes into the game and is knocked unconscious, receiving a concussion. Back at the hospital after the game Junior tells his guilty coach, “I would walk out of this hospital and walk all the way to Wellpinit to play them right now if I could” (148). This shows that even if Junior knows the risk, he will not give up. Junior later says “I have to prove that I am stronger than everybody else. I have to prove that I will never give up. I will never quit playing hard. And I don't just mean in basketball. I'm never going to quit living life this hard, you know? I’m never going to surrender” (186). And Junior doesn't surrender, no matter what life, or angry basketball fans throw at him.
Another strong quality Junior has, is his aspiration.

Junior strives to be more than what everyone expects him to be, he wants to follow his dreams. Junior starts to show this quality to hope and dream big when he decides to leave the rez and tells his parents. “ ‘I want to go to Reardan’ I said again. I couldn't believe I was saying it. For me it seemed as real as saying ‘I want to fly to the moon.’ ”(46) Junior knows he is dreaming far beyond what any Indian on the rez ever has and gone to achieve it. Another example of Juniors aspiration shines through when he talks to Penelope, “And I couldn't make fun of her for that dream. It was my dream, too. And Indian boys weren't supposed to dream like that. And white girls from small towns weren't supposed to dream big, either. We were supposed to be happy with our limitations. But there was no way Penelope and I were going to sit still. Nope, we both wanted to fly” In this quote, Junior accepts he is reaching towards something that may be unreachable, Junior however, wants to touch the sky. Juniors aspiration and high hopes and dreams are a strong part of what makes up his

character.
Juniors wise perception of the world is a prominent characteristic conveyed in the book through Juniors views on pain, poverty, and people.

Junior himself experiences much pain in his life, and he says, “There are all kinds of addicts, I guess. We all have pain. And we all look for ways to make the pain go away”(page 107). Junior understands that all people, no matter ethnicity, race, religion, experience different forms of pain, and we all try to forget about it. This is a topic that many people, especially Juniors age, would ignore. Junior also has a wise view on poverty, and experiences it himself. Junior says, “​Poverty doesn't give you strength or teach you lessons about perseverance. No, poverty only teaches you how to be poor” (page 54). Junior faces the issue of poverty directly, and doesn't try to romanticize it. Junior also has a unique view of people. Throughout the book Junior makes reference to his idea that the world is divided into tribes, and not just ones relating to subjects including race, ethnicity, and religion. However, Junior says, “I used to think the world was broken down by tribes,' I said. 'By Black and White. By Indian and White. But I know this isn't true. The world is only broken into two tribes: the people who are assholes and the people who are not”(176). Junior can see past his original outlook of people and realize something. The world divides itself into groups, yet what defines us is how we behave. In the book, Juniors

characteristic of being wise beyond his years shines through. Junior is a character who not only recognizes flaws in our society, faces problems in our world directly, but shows wise views of life.
The character Junior, from The Absolutely True Diary of A Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie, is filled with determination, aspiration, and unique wisdom. Junior refuses to give up, even when it may seem impossible. And even though Junior isn't supposed to go far, he still hopes to accomplish his big dreams. Junior also shows wise perceptions of the world around him. Junior, A boy divided between his home and his dreams, is a character to be remembered.