Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Reading #3: Question # 4 - Explain the significance/importance of the friendship with Gordy for Junior. (Rachel)

As an outsider fromt he rez at Reardan, Junior faces a daily struggle to fit in, while Gordy, a white farm boy, stuggles with the same obstacle.  "I was lonely and sad and isolated and terrified.  Just like Gordy" (Alexie, 94)  After feeling alone, Arnold realizes that they are both in the same boat.  In this quote, Junior shows the similarity in how the two boys are both affected by this school.  Gordy and Junior help each other "fit it", and focus on learning and studying.  Together, they both excel in academics  and Junior has learned many new ideas from Gordy.  Their friendship help the  boys to feel accepted and appreciated.  While both being outsiders, Gordy and Arnold learn to become friends and help each other through school and life.
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3 comments:

  1. AnonymousMay 15, 2013 at 3:51 PM

    Transferring to Reardon, a smart white-kid school, Junior struggles to fit, along with Gordy, known as the "class geek," who also struggles with having friends and fitting in. "Gordy taught me how to study. Best of all, he taught me how to read." (Alexie, 94) As Rachel said, Junior and Gordy both feel alone but after realizing they struggle with the same problem, they become friends by supporting each other and teaching each other new methods in school such as studying and reading. Gordy and Junior both struggle with the same problems but after becoming friends, they help each other to fit in and feel less alone. (Kim)

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  2. AnonymousMay 16, 2013 at 12:56 PM

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  3. AnonymousMay 16, 2013 at 12:57 PM

    I agree with both Rachel and Kim in that Junior and Gordy develop a friendship because they help each other fit in in a setting where they are both viewed as outsiders. In addition to this, I believe that they form a connection based on common ground that they have, specifically being academically superior to most of the other people at their school. Junior had already been put a a disadvantage to fitting by being an Indian from the rez, and being "smarter than most of those white kids" makes it harder still for him to socialize with his peers (Alexie 84). He finds that Gordy is intellectually at the same level as him, though, allowing the two to form a friendship. Junior and Gordy manage to establish a friendship based on the common issues of being outsiders in their surroundings and being more academically capable than the average student in their school. (Jackie)

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