The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian and Bastard out of Carolina

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The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie and Bastard out of Carolina by Dorothy Allison, tell stories about troubled adolescents and their desire to live a life more meaningful than the one society had predetermined for them. On the surface, Junior and Bone seem very different but when they are analyzed through the themes of discrimination, poverty, and friendship, these two protagonists become reflections of each other. This paper will compare the struggles faced by the characters and the effects of social inequality on their lives. The struggle to rise above the opinions of others was one of the major problems both Junior and Bone fought to overcome. In the case of Junior, racial discrimination was a constant reminder that he belonged to a low social class. His identity as Native American was a good enough reason for people of other races to look down on him. Stereotypes claimed Native Americans were lazy, uneducated alcoholics who did not attempted to overcome poverty. Due to the years of suppression that resulted from stereotyping, the Indian characters in this novel have a strong sense of hopelessness. The inhabitants of the reservation recognize that it is easier to accept injustice rather than face the adversity that comes with challenging their offenders. When Junior asks his parents which kinds of people have the most hope, without a hesitation they tell him "white people." (p. 45). Throughout the book, Junior comments on the fact that the white people belong to the most prestigious clubs, hold the highest paying jobs, and attend the best schools. The Native Americans assume the easiest thing to do is give up. They have come to believe that success belongs to the whites and that Indian life is sy... ... middle of paper ... ...h his life chances are low, he can still strive for a better life. Unfortunately, Bone experienced such hardship that in the end she stops fighting and accepts the fact that she would not rise to be anything more than she was expected to be, "white trash". The effects of social inequality, poverty, discrimination, abuse, and death effects people differently. Although they started out very similar, by the end of the books, Bone and Junior were at different ends of life. Despite their many similarities, they will grow to be very different people. Works Cited Alexie, S. (2007). The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. New York: Hachette Book Group, Inc. Allison, D. (2005). Bastard Out Of Carolina. New York: Penguin Group. Rothman, R. A. (2005). Inequality and Stratification: Race, Class, and Gender (5th ed.). Upper Saddle River, N.J. :Pearson Prentice Hall.

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The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian
1132 Words | 3 Pages
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Sherman Alexie: The Absolutely True Diary Of a Part-Time Indian Essay
698 Words | 2 Pages
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1336 Words | 3 Pages
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1679 Words | 4 Pages
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1421 Words | 3 Pages
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572 Words | 2 Pages
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1031 Words | 3 Pages
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The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian and Bastard out of Carolina

Native Son Rhetorical Analysis

Part-Time Indian Struggles

Role of Women in "Kiss of the Fur Queen"

Sherman Alexie's Indian Education