Sebastian McDaniel
In reading the novel The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, I became a fan of the way he became friends with people and how those friendships improved their lives and his. The friends I speak of are Gordy and Penelope.
First was Gordy, he was the weird,smart white kid, so basically the white version of Arnold. Gordy benefited from them being friends by him gaining a friend, having someone he could talk to that understood majority of what he said, and best of all he had someone to listen to him talk. Arnold benefited because he got his first real friend off the rez, he learned how to read, and he had the first person he could talk to at school on a regular basis. Arnold also told how Gordy helped him get through school. He said, "not only did he tutor him he also challenged him, but he made him realize that hard work-that the act of finishing, of completing of accomplishing a task-is joyous"(Alexie 96). I believe he is a good positive friend if Arnold was learning this much from him.
The next person was the "pretty bulimic" Penelope.She was throwing up in the bathroom one day and Arnold here's and tries to help her. She then refuses his help, but after his presistance she breaks down. She basically tells him, " due to he looks, popularity, and her intelligence, which she stayed twice she is more lonely and sad than any other person"(Alexie 107). Then from that point on she gradually became his friend and later his girlfriend some what. Arnold stats, " she she was dating him 'Only' because he was a Indian boy, also he was the worst possible chose for her" (Alexie 110). Arnold also figured she was bored of being the prettiest, smartest, and most popular girl in the world, she just wanted to get a little crazy. Arnold used her to make him self more popular, the other girls started to see him differently as if he was better looking, in dude eyes he started to look like a stud, and he even used her to change the teachers perceptions of him"(Alexie 110). I figured that this was weird, him dating one person changed and affected so many other people's opinions about him for the better good.
Looking at this section alone I really noticed how people opinions of other people can change so drastically by first glance, but drastically cumbersome once that person gets to know that person they had a judgement on. Realized another point you never really know what a person is good ng through if you don't take time to hear what they have to say. Stop judging books by their covers although we all still do this today.
Which was your favorite metaphor used by Gordy in order to help teach Arnold to read and why?
Do y'all agree with Arnold on the reason Penelope became friends with him or do y'all believe it was more to it, of so what? Why?
What do y'all think of the metaphoric boner?
They both were insecure he says that through his art and she is saying it through her battle with bulimia. He was out of her norm and it was a challenge. It was like there were no expectations by him so she could show a different side of herself. She brought him out of his as well. It's defiantly a learning experience for them both
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