Wednesday, December 11, 2013

What is the defining moment of The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian?

In any coming of age work, there are many defining moments
because the compendium of the work based on a life consists of "defining moments." 
Those are the ones that entered into the work. This means that a case can be made for
any moment featured in the novel as representative of one that is
definitive.


I think that the rematch between Reardon and
Wellpinit is probably my vote for the defining moment.  Junior and Reardon entered the
game on a 12 game winning streak, with their sole loss at Wellipnit.  The loss was
marred by a hard foul on Junior by Rowdy, as well as animosity from the crowd aimed at
Junior.  At the same time, Junior himself had overcome the difficulty of transitioning
to Reardon, telling his Social Studies teacher who is insensitive to his predicament his
own conception of the world:


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...the world is only broken into two
tribes...people who are assholes and...people who are
not.



With this realization in
hand and buoyed by an increased confidence, Junior plays the game of his life against
the Reservation school and against Rowdy.  He vows to never acquiesce to anyone and the
game becomes the forum where this mantra is put to its first and ultimate test.  He
succeeds and Reardon slaughters Wellpinit.  During the celebration, Junior sees the
inescapable sadness that seems to follow the Native American players even away from the
reservation.  He understands the differences between both worlds and in the midst of his
greatest happiness, he retreats to the locker room and cries.  His tears are
representative of how he has a foot in both worlds, and how the dual consciousness he
experiences in both will forever help to form his identity and always be a part of
him.

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