Multiple- Face

I have recently read the book The Absolutely True Diary of a Part- Time Indian by Sherman Alexie. In this book there are many lessons about life that the author tries to teach us. I think that one of the most important ones he tries to teach us is that you should be yourself, but there isn't always one you. People are going to act differently depending on who they are with and maybe not even be exactly themselves, and the author shows how that's okay. The main character of this book is Arnold Spirit Jr. In this book he learns this lesson.

Arnold was different with the people on the rez than the people that went to his school in a different town. On the rez, people called him Junior and he got beat up. To them he was "a poor no one". However, he was always himself, especially with his best friend Rowdy. He was able to tell Rowdy all of his dreams and just about everything. Him and Rowdy always talked and joked around together, and were always honest with each other. I think it's really great that Arnold had that group of people he was himself with, including his family, but how I said, specifically Rowdy.

Arnold acted completely different with all of his classmates. His classmates didn't think he was poor and didn't think of him as a no one. In school he was one of the most popular kids. He was also one of the best basketball players on the team unlike when he went to school on the rez. Also in his new school, he has a girlfriend that is also popular named Penelope. With these classmates he is less loose and more serious about life and what he wants. With his family and tribe members he is much more loose and less serious about life.

One of the most important lessons that are in the book The Absolutely True Diary of a Part- Time Indian is that it is okay to be different and not yourself at times. I think that people always say cliché things such as you should always be yourself, which I definitely agree on but sometimes people bring out different sides of you and different reactions or emotions. I love how realistic the author is in this book and in life. He shows different sides and emotions of Arnold and how the people around him affect him.