Eugene Character Analysis in The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

Dad’s best friend, who drinks constantly, rides a motorcycle, and works as an EMT for the tribal clinic. Junior implies that although Eugene is a happy drunk, he’s also deeply sad. Eugene encourages Junior when he transfers to the Reardan school and always tells him “You can do it!” whenever he’s playing any kind of game. Just after Grandmother dies, Eugene is also shot and killed in a drunken fight with his friend Bobby, who doesn’t realize what he’s done.

Eugene Quotes in The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

The The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian quotes below are all either spoken by Eugene or refer to Eugene. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:

Identity, Belonging, and Coming-of-Age Theme Icon

).

I would always love Rowdy. And I would always miss him, too. Just as I would always love and miss my grandmother, my big sister, and Eugene.
Just as I would always love and miss my reservation and my tribe.
I hoped and prayed that they would someday forgive me for leaving them.
I hoped and prayed that I would someday forgive myself for leaving them.

Related Characters: Junior (Arnold Spirit, Jr.) (speaker), Rowdy, Mary Runs Away, Grandmother Spirit, Eugene

Page Number and Citation: 230

Explanation and Analysis: