why does junior mock rowdy in The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

Answer 1

Junior mocks Rowdy in The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian because he wants to assert his own identity and independence. Junior is a teenager who has grown up on the Spokane Indian Reservation, where he faces poverty and discrimination. However, when he decides to leave the reservation to attend a predominantly white school in a neighboring town, he faces criticism and rejection from his own community, including his best friend, Rowdy.

Rowdy represents the reservations' rigid social structure and traditional values, which Junior wants to challenge. By mocking Rowdy, Junior is rebelling against the limitations and expectations placed on him by his community. He wants to prove that he can succeed outside of the reservation, and that he can forge his own path rather than following in the footsteps of those who have come before him.

Additionally, Junior's mocking of Rowdy can be seen as a defense mechanism. Rowdy initially reacts to Junior's decision to leave the reservation with anger and betrayal, causing Junior to distance himself emotionally and mock Rowdy as a way to protect himself from the pain of rejection.

Ultimately, Junior's mocking of Rowdy serves as a means for him to assert his own individuality, challenge traditional norms, and protect himself from the emotional turmoil he faces.