Hope or No Hope? That is the Question.

This cartoon is on page 43 in the novel, “The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian” by Sherman Alexie.   This was the first drawing that Arnold drew after having a conversation with his geometry teacher, Mr. P.  The drawing illustrates his very first notion that leaving the reservation was even an option.  The idea of hope being a possibility for him or his people never occurred to him.  This cartoon depicts him standing at the “crossroads”.  One direction is the familiar, yet unbearable reality of staying on the reservation for the rest of his life.   The other direction, which he is facing, is the idea of hope.  There are several question marks on the lower arrow.  They appear to relate to Arnold’s inability, at that moment, to even visualize what hope looks or feels like.  The cartoon makes it really clear that the reservation is a place where hope will never exist.   

I chose this cartoon because I love it when I or someone I know has an epiphany.I believe Arnold had an epiphany as a result of the conversation with his teacher and that is what this cartoon represents.