Explanation:
Over the next few weeks in Reardan, Junior endures what he describes as “the loneliest time of my life,” during which he begins to feel like “the opposite of human.” He describes how each day when he leaves the reservation, he becomes “something less than Indian” on the way to Reardan, and then “something less than less than less than Indian” once he arrives—a characteristically extreme statement that shows how deeply being ignored by the white kids affects him.
Junior’s sense of alienation eats away at his identity. If others don’t recognize him as one of them, he feels, then he might as well not exist at all. He’s made it clear that the extreme poverty on the rez is dehumanizing, but isolation is dehumanizing too. Right now it seems like leaving the reservation—and giving up a sense of community in the process—might not have been worth it for Junior.
THEMES
Identity, Belonging, and Coming-of-Age Theme Icon Racism, Poverty, and Alcoholism Theme Icon Hope, Dreams, and Loss Theme Icon
However, during this time he does learn that he’s smart—smarter than most of the kids in his classes. Once, he is able to correct the geology teacher, Mr. Dodge, with an explanation of how petrified wood is formed. Rather than the wood transforming into rock, as Mr. Dodge says, Junior states that rock replaces the wood, with minerals keeping the shape of the tree as it disintegrates.
Junior’s description of the petrified wood is symbolic of his situation, because he feels that the core elements of who he is are being stripped away. Mr. Dodge’s explanation, in contrast, presents a more optimistic but overly simplified view of transformation. Wood can’t just turn into rock, just as Junior can’t simply turn into a white kid.
THEMES
Identity, Belonging, and Coming-of-Age Theme Icon Hope, Dreams, and Loss Theme Icon
Furious at being contradicted, Mr. Dodge belittles Junior’s education from the rez, and calls on Gordy, the “class genius,” to explain the truth. When Gordy confirms that Junior’s explanation is correct, Mr. Dodge thanks Gordy instead of Junior for sharing the fact. Junior shrinks back in his chair and remembers “when I used to be a human being … when people used to think my brain was useful.”
Here Mr. Dodge displays a not-so-subtle form of racism, which hurts Junior deeply. Junior’s idea of being human—that is, afforded full dignity and respect—includes being “useful”—valued for playing a role (such as “class genius”) in the community. At the very least Junior wants to be recognized as existing.
THEMES
Identity, Belonging, and Coming-of-Age Theme Icon Racism, Poverty, and Alcoholism Theme Icon
Junior tries to thank Gordy for standing up for him, but Gordy just says that he did it for science. Feeling snubbed, Junior compares himself to a piece of petrified wood, waiting “for the rocks to replace my bones and blood.”
The fact that Gordy chooses to protect an abstract concept instead of relating to Junior on personal terms doesn’t help Junior’s sense of being less than human. This moment adds another element to the symbolism of petrified wood: not only has a change taken place, but the parts of the wood that once were growing and living are being replaced by cold, dead rock
