Green Hornet Monologues

“He could have ended the beatings by running away or succumbing to tears, but he refused to do either” (Hillenbrand 9).

Growing up, Louie faces considerable abuse from bullies based on his ethnicity, appearance, and character. The citizens of Torrance hated Italians so much that they attempted to prevent the Zamperinis from moving in. In addition, Louie, a small boy with exaggerated features, takes to a life of petty crime. Because he gives no one any reason to accept him, the bullies of Torrance capitalize on this ostracism. Utterly defenseless against a group of larger boys, Louie’s only options are flight or endurance. As the narrator explains, Louie chooses to endure the pain with a strong resilience that fights back every tear. Through

Louie, Phil, and Mac are left with only a little fresh water. In order to feed themselves, the survivors must get creative. Their only options are birds and fish, both of which require skill and patience to acquire. They exhaust themselves attempting to catch fish with their bare hands; somehow the creatures are able to evade their grasp every time. With no bait, the fishing line provided with the life raft is useless. After Louie catches an Albatross and successfully uses the meat as bait, the narrator describes an idea that Louie hopes will solve their hunger problem in the absence of bait. After creating a device out of the fishing line and hooks, Louie is able to catch the first pilot fish he sees. This instance reveals Louie’s extreme resourcefulness. Using pure creativity, Louie is able to temporarily solve a seemingly unsolvable problem. In a situation wherein having bait is dependent on nature, Louie flips the dependence onto himself. Few minds have the ability to create a device so intricate out of what appears to be virtually useless. This resourcefulness is essential to the survival of Louie and Phil. Without it, starvation would likely get the best of them, as he employs this ingenuity in multiple, desperate instances. In light of the time on the raft, Louie’s mind saves his friend’s life. In light of his time as a prisoner of war, Louie’s resourcefulness contributes to an escape effort, attempt at revenge, and the acquisition of food and wartime news. In short, Louie’s mind carries him and others through some horrifying circumstances during the war.