Two Worlds, One Identity: Postcolonial Reading of Space in Sherman Alexie's The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.24256/ideas.v14i1.10785Keywords:
Postcolonialism, Sara Upstone, Sherman Alexie, Space, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time IndianAbstract
This study examines how the reservation shape’s identity in Sherman Alexie’s The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian (2007). Rather than treating the setting as a passive background, this paper contributes to postcolonial spatial studies by showing how the reservation actively constructs identity before any physical movement takes place. This qualitative study applies Sara Upstone’s concepts of "place" and "space" to analyze the novel's dialogues, narratives, and events. This specific framework reveals how colonial structures turn the reservation into a fixed "place" of poverty and isolation that Junior internalizes. However, the analysis demonstrates that Junior’s relocation to Reardan transforms this restrictive environment into a flexible "space" for self-definition. In conclusion, the study argues that the reservation is not permanently limiting, but can be transformed into a dynamic environment through individual agency and resistance.
References
Adzhani, S. A. (2014). KONSTRUKSI RUANG KOTA POSKOLONIAL DAN RESPONS SPASIAL DALAM NOVEL THE KITE RUNNER KARYA KHALED HOSSEINI. Poetika, 2(1). https://doi.org/10.22146/poetika.v2i1.10418
Alexie, S. (2007). The Absolutely True-Diary of a Part-Time Indian. Brown and Company.
Asri, Z. A. (2025). James Joyce’s A Little Cloud: The Construction and Resistance of the Postcolonial City. Vivid: Journal of Language and Literature, 14(1), 83–91. https://doi.org/10.25077/vj.14.1.83-91.2025
Atikurrahman, Moh. (2014). PROSA, RUANG, DAN KOTA PASCAKOLONIAL. Poetika, 2(2). https://doi.org/10.22146/poetika.v2i2.10445
Bhabha, H. K. (1994). The Location of Culture. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203820551
Bhandari, N. B. (2022). Homi K. Bhabha’s Third Space Theory and Cultural Identity Today: A Critical Review. Prithvi Academic Journal, 5(1), 171–181. https://doi.org/10.3126/paj.v5i1.45049
Buckingham, D. (2008). Introducing Identity. Retrieved from ResearchGate website: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/283985870_Introducing_Identity
Chang, L. P., Chuang, S. Y., Wang, C. T., Chang, H. T., Chen, M. H., Chang, C. H., & Chu, Y. C. (2014). Leaving the Reservation: Reconstructing Identity in Sherman Alexie’s The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. World Journal of English Language, 4(1). https://doi.org/10.5430/wjel.v4n1p1
Collins, C. (2018). What Is White Privilege, Really? Recognizing white privilege begins with truly understanding the term itself. Retrieved from https://www.salisbury.edu/administration/diversity-and-inclusion/_files/anti-racism/what-is-white-privilege-really.pdf
Destriyadi. (2024). The Politic of Space in Martavan by Fahrul Khahim. Abjad Journal of Humanities & Education, 2(1), 9. https://doi.org/10.62079/abjad.v2i1.2
Ernawati, Y., Purnomo, B., Widayati, S. W., Rokib, M., Sulistiani, S., & Septiana, H. (2018). City Space in the Postcolonial City in Javanese Novel “Sapecak Bumi sing Kobong” by Hastin Zaina. Advances in Social Science, Education and Humanities Research, 222.
Furidha, B. W. (2023). COMPREHENSION OF THE DESCRIPTIVE QUALITATIVE RESEARCH METHOD: A CRITICAL ASSESSMENT OF THE LITERATURE. Acitya Wisesa: Journal of Multidisciplinary Research, 2(4), 1–8. https://doi.org/10.56943/jmr.v2i4.443
Kendall, F. (2012). Understanding White Privilege. In Routledge eBooks. Informa. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203961032
Lundin, L. (2024, July 4). Exploring Indigenous Identity and Social Inequalities: A Postcolonial Analysis of The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian and the Novel’s Incorporation in Upper Secondary School.
Masruddin, M., Amir, F., Langaji, A., & Rusdiansyah, R. (2023). Conceptualizing linguistic politeness in light of age. International Journal of Society, Culture & Language, 11(3), 41-55.
Milandri, R. (2024, October 31). The truth about Indian reservations. The lands do not belong to the Native Americans. Article by Raffaella Milandri. Retrieved from Research Gate website: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/385417070_The_truth_about_Indian_reservations_The_lands_do_not_belong_to_the_Native_Americans_Article_by_Raffaella_Milandri
Rahariyoso, D. (2014). PARADOKS RUANG TUBUH DALAM PUISI “SAKRAMEN” KARYA JOKO PINURBO: KAJIAN “PASCAKOLONIAL TUBUH” SARA UPSTONE. Poetika, 1(1). https://doi.org/10.22146/poetika.v2i1.10413
Rahma, A., & Hanif, M. N. (2019). RUANG DAN IDENTITAS DALAM CERPEN “KEMERDEKAAN” KARYA PUTU WIJAYA (Space and Identity in “Kemerdekaan” Short Story by Putu Wijaya). Kandai, 15(1), 133. https://doi.org/10.26499/jk.v15i1.1289
Ritchie, J., & Spencer, L. (2002). Analyzing qualitative data (A. Bryman & R. G. Burgess, Eds.). 29 West 35th Street, New York, NY 10001: Taylor & Francis e-Library,. Retrieved from https://share.google/1XoYdgUgk7VRepnej (Original work published 1994)
Sar, S. (2023). Resistensi Tokoh Utama terhadap Ruang Kota Pascakolonial dalam Novel Divergent Karya Veronica Roth. JENTERA Jurnal Kajian Sastra, 12(2), 271–271. https://doi.org/10.26499/jentera.v12i2.6085
Sulistyo, H. (2020). Politik Spasial dalam Lirik Lagu Bengawan Solo Karya Gesang dan Di Tepinya Sungai Serayu Karya Soetedja: Analisis Pascakolonial Sara Upstone. ATAVISME, 23(2), 147–160. https://doi.org/10.24257/atavisme.v23i2.633.147-160
Tripathy, J. (2009). Postcolonialism and the Native American Experience: A Theoretical Perspective. Retrieved May 12, 2026, from Academia.edu website: https://www.academia.edu/1451106/Postcolonialism_and_the_Native_American_Experience_A_Theoretical_Perspective?sm=b&rhid=39983699957
Upstone, S. (2009). Spatial Politics in the Postcolonial Novel. Ashgate Publishing, Ltd.
Usman, N., Hendrik, H., & Madehang, M. (2024). Difficulties in understanding the TOEFL reading test of english language education study program at university. IDEAS: Journal on English Language Teaching and Learning, Linguistics and Literature, 12(1), 755-773.
Vignoles, V. (2017, May). Identity: Personal and Social. Retrieved from ResearchGate
website:https://www.researchgate.net/publication/316790231_Identity_Personal_AND_Social
Wahyuni, P., Ihsan, P., & Lestari, S. (2026). View of Unhomeliness and Hybridity in Jung’s Shine: Postcolonial Study. Retrieved May 20, 2026, from Iainpalopo.ac.id website: https://ejournal.iainpalopo.ac.id/index.php/ideas/article/view/2739/1769
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
Citation Check
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Angelique Sheva Kurniawan, Zuhrul Anam
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under an Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-SA 4.0) that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See the Effect of Open Access)
