At the end of the book, why does Rowdy compare Junior to a nomad?
In the book "The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian" by Sherman Alexie, Rowdy compares Junior (the protagonist) to a nomad at the end of the book to highlight how Junior has become detached from his original home and community on the Spokane Indian Reservation. As a nomad is someone who constantly moves from place to place, never settling down permanently, Rowdy views Junior as having transformed into someone who can no longer fully take root in any one place.
Rowdy's comparison signifies how Junior's decision to attend Reardan High School, a predominantly white school outside the reservation, has fundamentally changed his identity and sense of belonging. By joining a different community with different cultural values and expectations, Junior has undergone a significant shift in perspective and way of life. This makes it difficult for him to integrate seamlessly back into his original community.
Rowdy's comparison also reflects his feelings of betrayal and abandonment. He feels hurt that his best friend, Junior, has chosen to leave their familiar surroundings and defy the expectations set for him as a member of the reservation. Rowdy is dealing with his own challenges regarding identity and displacement, and Junior's departure exacerbates those feelings.
Overall, through comparing Junior to a nomad, Rowdy highlights the emotional and physical distance that has grown between them due to Junior's choice to pursue a different path, while also emphasizing the difficulty of reconciling multiple identities and finding a true sense of belonging.