Leading a Double Life?

In the novel, “The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian”, by Sherman Alexie the main character, Arnold “Junior” Spirit leaves the reservation school to attend an all white school twenty miles away. 

"Junior"

On the “rez” he has always been known as Junior. His whole life has been spent in a very tight community wherein he has frequently been seen as someone with deficiencies and medical issues. 

Going to a new school opened up the opportunity for Junior to become his own person.   At his new school, he is using his birth name, Arnold. He quotes in the book that he “felt like two different people inside of one body”. It is as if he has a double life, one which honors the traditions and way of being on the reservation and the other is where he can become the person he wants to be rather than what is being dictated by his circumstances.   In my opinion, he is beginning to identify with the individual, capable and confident part of himself (Arnold) that he feels he can only be when he is not on the reservation.  

 

"Arnold"