The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

Antonio Banrey

January 5, 2012

ROAR Term II

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian tells the story of Arnold, a Native American boy who is torn between lives of being white and Native American. It all starts with Arnold explaining that the worst part of poverty was the hopelessness that it brings. Rowdy is Arnold’s best friend and helped his get through his time of need when his dog died. When school starts up, Arnold is in the ninth grade. On the first day of geometry class, he notices that his mother’s name is in his book. This meant that the book was over thirty years old. In a fit of blind rage, Arnold throws his book and it slams into the nose of his geometry teacher and he is suspended. While suspended, is geometry teacher, Mr. P, comes to visit him. He tells Arnold of all the wrong that he has don’t to Native Americans by giving into the corrupt system and tells him to get out of the Rez, so that he may have hope. Arnold resolves to go to a school in the predominantly white town of Reardan. His best friend abandons him, everyone on the reservation thinks that he is a traitor and he is made an outcast.

His first day at the white school, the “Alpha Male” begins picking on him. Arnold follows the Indian rules of fighting and punches the Alpha in the face. The Alpha does nothing and Arnold earns some respect from the men. Penelope, Arnolds crush, is planning to take money instead of candy so she can help that homeless and so Arnold says he will help. He makes a fair amount of money but is robbed and beaten. Penelope is kind enough to put his name on her money. In his classes, the teachers do not believe that Arnold knows what he is talking about until the class genius, Gordy, points out that he is correct. After an awkward moment, Arnold and Gordy become friends. After a short period of time, Arnold ends up going out with Penelope and they go to the school dance together. They end up having to go to a diner and Arnold has no money. Arnold runs into Roger who gives him $40. Arnold survives the night but still has to deal with the issues between him and Rowdy. Arnold eventually joins the Basketball Team and ends up facing his old school from the reservation. He gets beat up once more by Rowdy and Reardan loses the game. Seasons pass with one tragedy after another. Soon it is Reardan versus the reservation, round two. Arnold ends up winning the game and is made the hero of the day. Arnold’s sister dies sometime after the game in her home in Montana. This devastates Arnold, but thankfully, his teachers and friends at school try to help him through it all. He realizes that though he is attempting to reaching his dreams, he still loves his home on the reservation and things are patched up the Rowdy.

“‘I want us to be friends,’ I said.

Gordy stepped back.

‘I assure you,’ he said, ‘I’m not a homosexual.’

‘Oh, no,’ I said, ‘I don’t want to be friends that way’” (Alexie 71).

This shows us that between the males in the novel, there are hardly ever any requests for friendship. Any act toward a request is considered an act of homosexuality. Gordy doesn’t realize that there is no other motive than friendship in Arnolds gesture.

Alexie, Sherman, and Ellen Forney. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian. New York: Little, Brown, 2007. Print.

The Defeat and Triumph of Anthony Burns

Antonio Banrey
November 14, 2011
ROAR Notes
The story begins with Anthony being chased down and arrested by the police for a crime he did not commit. Burns soon comes to the realization that one of his captors is his former Master. Anthony turns to the memories of his childhood for safety and comfort in this tense situation. When taken to trial, several abolitionists come to his aid and are given a week to prepare a case. Literally over night, Anthony Burns becomes a symbol of hope and freedom. Later the next day, Anthony is tricked by the guards and signs away his rights. Later tricking the guard, Anthony gets back his rights by ripping up the paper, with the help of Reverend Grimes. Anthony Burns is very lucky to be in Boston, a place filled with abolitionists that will help him out on his fight for freedom. At the Friday Abolitionist meeting, a vague plan is made up for the rescue of Anthony. Soon, Anthony realizes that the abolitionists are trying to take the court house by force. Though they started off strong, the abolitionists were fought off by the police and security was tightened. On Saturday, Anthony appeared in court and in a stroke of luck he was given more time to prepare his case. His former master says that he my sell him in the area to anyone willing to buy. Reverend Grimes jumps at the opportunity to seize the freedom of Mr. Burns. Grimes spends the rest of the day gathering the money to boy Anthony though an agreement that he and Colonel Suttle made. By the time that the signature is ready to be given, it is just 15 minutes into Sunday, and Massachusetts law forbids any transactions on Sunday. Reverend Grimes says a prayer for Anthony Burns.
The final 60 pages are the trial of Anthony Burns. The judge shows signs of prejudice from the start and the defense feels that their cause is lost but they intend to go down with a fight. The prosecution attempts to prove that Anthony belongs to Suttle. The ‘facts’ were contradicted by the defense easily. However, because of the judge, the case is lost. Anthony is sent to jail and is sold to a man who sends him to Boston with Reverend Grimes. Anthony lives out the rest of his life as a reverend in Canada.
“One man rushed frantically about, crying, ‘Come on!’ but none seemed ready to follow” (Hamilton 78).
This is an important quote because we see that thought the abolitionists say that they are ready to fight for the freedom of Anthony, few are actually prepared to take the risk of arrest or even death. Outsiders view them as cowards and here we see that in most cases, their bark is worse than their bite.