Analysing the illustration in The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian: Junior

Analysing the illustration in The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian: Junior

By: Tim Eriksen




The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian by Sherman Alexie is about Junior, a budding cartoonist living in an Indian reservation. Born with a range of medical problems he is bullied a lot because of how he looks. Using humour and wonderful illustrations, Sherman Alexie and Ellen Forney gives the reader insight in how Junior feels and how he copes with the harsh life in the reservation.

How does Sherman Alexie and Ellen Forney with the help of illustration portray Junior and his predicaments?

Junior in all his glory

p. 5.

The first illustration in the novel is a drawing Junior made of himself: A stuttering, lisping, skinny and big-headed guy with glasses. Being born with fluid in his brain, did not bless him with good looks and because of this he is frequently being bullied. Noticing that one eye is drawn a little bigger to show that he has a black-eye from getting punched.

To be or not to be

 

P.57.

In this illustration the dilemma of Junior is quite clear: Being a native American wishing for a better life; Junior must decide if he wish to stay at the reservation or abandon it and enrol to a whites high-school. One has the harsh and neglected life and the other a promising future and a chance at a higher education. Here the reader gets a clear view on the pros and cons according to Junior.

Dealing with poverty

 

P.128.

This last illustration shows some different responses to a question most who are poor dread to answer. Poverty is not an easy thing to explain and for Junior who comes from a poor background, the problem lies within the wish of not to be found out. Not to be able to hang out with your own classmates because you can not afford it is not a pleasant thing.

With funny and clever illustrations Ellen Forney does an excellent job of portraying Junior and the hardships and challenges Junior goes through. It also makes it easy for the reader to visualise and understand what  kind of predicament and how Junior feels; with clever use of details like the black-eye in the first photo to comical aspects in the others. 

Sources.

Alexie. S (2007)-The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian - Hachette Book Group, Inc.