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In The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie, how is Junior's lack of self-esteem in himself and his culture worse than...

Junior's lack of self-esteem in himself and his culture is worse than economic poverty because failure to believe in his identity means he will never see a world where he can be a "bright and shining star."


The conversation that he and Mr. P share is one of the most important moments in Junior's life.  The conversation was so powerful because of the passion with which Mr. P speaks.  He wants Junior to want something better for his life.  Mr. P talks to Junior about how there is a part of his identity that refuses "to give up."  The teacher argues that the reason why Junior hurled the book was because part of him still believes that he is destined for something better. Mr. P says that Junior can be a "bright and shining star" only if he leaves the reservation. He warns Junior that if he stays on the reservation, his hope will be broken and, like so many others, he will give up.  Junior says that listening to Mr. P and thinking about what he said caused him to feel that "life had just knocked me on my ass."


Mr. P does not talk about financial poverty.  He is not worried about Junior and poverty because he believes that if Junior remains committed to his hope of wanting to be more, he can navigate the difficulties of monetary challenge.  As painful as poverty is, it is external.  It is outside of Junior.  However, emotional and psychological poverty in the form of a lack of self-esteem in himself and his culture would be crippling because it would be located inside Junior.  Mr. P warns Junior that if he stays on the reservation, he will become like Rowdy and undoubtedly succumb to this condition of internal defeat:



The only thing you kids are being taught is how to give up. Your friend Rowdy, he's given up. That's why he likes to hurt people. He wants them to feel as bad as he does... All these kids have given up... All your friends. All the bullies. And their mothers and fathers have given up, too. And their grandparents gave up and their grandparents before them. And me and every other teacher here. We're all defeated.



The world of "the rez" is one of emotional poverty, where there is a dominant lack of self-esteem in culture and individuals.  When Mr. P says that everyone on "the rez" has "given up," it shows why financial poverty is not as bad as emotional poverty.   Mr. P affirms this when he tells Junior that he does not want him to fail or fade away because he "deserves better."  This faith in yourself and belief in hope can transcend economic poverty.  However, it will die in the emotional impoverishment of a lack of self-esteem in the individual and culture because Junior will become "defeated."


Junior feels that life has "knocked him on his ass" because he realizes that he has to make a choice.  If he stays on the reservation, he will become a victim to the emotional poverty of a lack of self-esteem in his identity and culture. As he studies the sadness around him, Junior realizes that financial poverty is not as bad as an emotional one.

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