Going to school on the rez, Junior was not exactly happy. He
was forced to endure regular fistfights with some of the other kids, and although
he was of the same race as his classmates, they still considered him “different”
with his disabilities and appearance. There were some good things about his old
school, however, such as his best friend, Rowdy, and the fact that it was close
to home. As the narrator (Junior) says in the book, “Nobody would miss me if I
was gone. Well, Rowdy would miss me …” (Alexie 16). At his new school, he is
also thought of as “different” by both his peers and teachers, with the exception
of a few people. This could get better later on, such as the case with Roger.
Over all, the new school does not seem to be as bad as the rez school, although
it may be a bit duller. This new school makes him feel alone, without his best
friend. In science class, his teacher, Mr. Dodge, tells him sarcastically, “Yes,
we all know there is so much amazing science on the reservation” (Alexie 85),
insulting both him and his home. This causes some of the other students to
laugh and point fingers at him, making him feel inferior. It is hard to say
whether the new school or the old school is better for Junior.
I think that the new school is better for Junior, because while he had a bit of a rough start in the beginning. People at Rearden have gotten used to him. And some of them even strive to be his friend. This is illustrated on page 127 when Penelope says to Junior, "Roger likes you. He's a great guy. He's like my big brother. He can be your friend, too." This is contrasted with the fact that everybody at his old school is currently shunning him for (in thier eyes) "being a traitor".
ReplyDeleteI agree, that Reardan is a better school for Junior because when Roger and Penelope found out that that his family is in poverty, they accepted him for who he was. At the rez school, just being "different" caused Junior to not have many friends. But when he revealed one of his biggest lies/secrets, the best possible outcome occurs. Arnold says, "I figured she was going to march out of my life right then. But she didn't. Instead she kissed me." (Alexie 127). Reardan has the friends and hope that Junior always wanted to have.
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