Wednesday, May 20, 2015

What does Arnold hide and ultimately reveal in "Dance Dance Dance?" What does he learn? Discuss the final sentence on page 129. (Campbell)

Arnold has been hiding the fact that he is poor every since he got to Reardon. He ends up revealing it to Penelope because he cares for her and would never lie to her face. He knows he will have to tell her at one point because lies stink like rotting food. He learns that no matter what is going on in your life, good friends are there through the good, bad, and the ugly. He sees how he doesn't get disowned by his best friend and by his girlfriend. But he is loved no less or more because of it. He sees that the only thing that changes is that he doesn't have something burning inside him and he doesn't have to walk home every night. Arnold sees that his best friends are still there when they find out. Although Rowdy isn't there, he still loves his new friends and is very grateful for their friendship. The last sentence on page 129 says "If you let people into your life a little bit, they can be pretty damn amazing (Alexie)." This really shows that by revealing himself only a little bit makes his friends understand him more. It makes him feel cared for and knows that these people are his true friends.
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2 comments:

  1. AnonymousMay 20, 2015 at 7:32 PM

    I agree with Campbell; after Arnold tells his friends that he is poor, they help him out and his life suddenly becomes a lot better. He learns that he doesn't have to hide his lack of wealth and that his friends will support him and help him no matter how poor he his. Arnold was very scared to tell Penelope, in fact he "figured she was going to march right out of [his] life right then (Alexie, 127). After Arnold tells Penelope and Roger, he learns that keeping his problems to himself won't help him. He also learns that true friendship is sticking with your friends no matter what and helping them overcome their issues.

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    1. AnonymousMay 20, 2015 at 7:56 PM

      I agree, this event is truly a turning point in Junior's life. Before this he is not being accepted. After, he is truly sure that Roger and Penelope are his friends and would not abandon him just because he is poor. This is what friendship has always meant. It is to put your friend's need before your own, and to suppress your own feelings and judgements for the benefit of your friend. Friendship has never been, nor is it supposed to been, calm and relaxed. As friends, people will always encounter disasters like this one. But it is only the feeling that survived the disaster can be truly called "friendship". Like the friendship of Junior and Rowdy, and now, Penelope and Roger.

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