While spirituality is certainly a factor in this fantastic book, I wouldn't say that there are examples of religion as such, and there is no talk of an afterlife in the aftermath of the death of Junior's sister or any of the other deaths that are referred to in the book.
As a native American, Junior participates in various cultural and spiritual rites, but at no point does he seem to associate himself with any religion or discuss belief in any higher power. I would argue that "that old time Indian spirit" was the closest thing that Junior knew to any religion.
Religion seems to be associated with the arrival of the white man, who, as Junior explains, brought with them Christianity and homophobia. A number of the characters who Junior describes are alcoholics who are prone to abusing children, and religion does not seem to be prevalent anywhere in this society. In fact, Junior expresses his pride in his grandmother for having rejected religion.
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian is a novel written by Sherman Alexie. This story is about Arnold Spirit Jr (known as "Junior") and his life as a young native boy, trying to find his place in society and his identity.
Throughout the novel, many themes appear frequently. Some of the themes in this novel are individuality and identity, racism, and religion.
Religion and spirituality appear several times throughout the novel. Often, they appear when Junior is discussing his own Native American beliefs and traditions and how these were influenced when Christianity was "brought in by the white people". Western ideas, in Junior's opinion, changed and limited the amount of traditional native practices, traditions, and medicines.
Most of Junior's religious beliefs stem from his grandmother's "old-time Indian spirit". This spirit focuses on traditional native beliefs and renounces Christianity. This religion is not judgmental as many religious beliefs today.
Spirituality was a theme throughout the novel The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian. In this coming-of-age story, Junior is finding his place as a Native American in a white world. He is raised by his Native family and is taught to value traditional practices and medicines; however, he and the rest of his community still struggle with Western influence. He says,
Of course, ever since white people showed up and brought along their Christianity and their fears of eccentricity, Indians have gradually lost all of their tolerance.
Here, he explains how traditional Spokane culture values differences. He describes how gay people were seen as blessed. However, Christian influence has made Native Americans just as homophobic and judgmental as white people. Junior admires his grandmother for her teachings and her resistance to Christianity. He says,
Indians can be just as judgmental and hateful as any white person. But not my grandmother. She still hung on to that old-time Indian spirit, you know.
For Junior, "that old-time Indian spirit" is the religion that he understands and is learning how to put into practice.
Native American spirituality is one aspect of Native American culture that Sherman Alexie explores in this novel. For instance, in the chapter titled "Revenge Is My Middle Name," Junior and Rowdy attend the local powwow, but more of what the reader sees here is the traditional events for the Native Americans. A more spiritual moment happens when Junior's grandmother dies. In "Wake," Junior describes how the community comes together for him, his family, and his grandmother:
And so, laughing and crying, we said good-bye to my grandmother. And when we said good-bye to one grandmother, we said good-bye to all of them.
Each funeral was funeral for all of us.
We lived and died together.
Even though Junior had been ostracized from the community throughout most of the novel, he comments that for this one day, everyone left him to mourn his loss, and they all came together, no matter their differences. The spirituality of the community is what Alexie wants the reader to take away from this piece, not just the traditional ideas one might have about Native American culture.
No comments:
Post a Comment