Real friendship and loyalty do not exist in the novel I’m Not Scared. Discuss.
Set in the small, secluded Southern Italy town of Acqua Traverse in the scorching summer of 1978, Niccolo Ammaniti’s novel ‘I’m Not Scared’ tells the tale of a nine year old boy’s struggle against moral principles and fight against evil. Throughout the book themes like cruelty and captivity to friendship and loyalty are explored by the author. Readers may believe that real friendship and loyalty do not exist in the novel after several incidents involving betrayal and friendships broken are encountered. However, it is Michele, who proves this wrong because of his concern and loyalty to others. After finding Filippo in a hole dehumanised and traumatised, Michele builds a strong friendship with him
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Even though Michele knows of Papa’s wrong doings he is still very obedient which shows loyalty. As well as being a big brother figure to Maria and forgiving Salvatore proves that Real friendships and Loyalty exist in ‘I’m Not Scared’.
First and foremost friendship and loyalty is shown to exist in ‘I’m Not Scared’ when Michele befriends Filippo and the fact he can’t leave him alone especially after he promises he’ll come back. The fact that Filippo refers to Michele as the Guardian Angel shows how much of strong and sincere bond they have between each other. "The angel always tells the truth. You're the guardian angel" (pg.75). But Michele’s loyalty comes to the test soon after, when forced to promise on Papa’s head, saying that he will never visit the hole again. "What was I going to do now? I promised him I would go
But through all of these images of the horror and sadness of the time period, hopes are constantly raised by the humor, and personality of Guido and the magic his character brings to the story. Riding into a hotel ballroom on a green horse, and riding away with his princess—stealing her away from her fiancé, much like the old stories from the past. In the film, the concentration camp is a playground for a young child. And in the same town that Mussolini was driving through, Guido first meets his princess.
The 1972 release, ‘The Godfather‘, first a book by Mario Puzo before being transformed into three-part film by Francis Coppola - is the movie hailed a masterpiece, rendering many imitations, parodies and shameless impersonations. This infamous gangster text which, while confirming our preconceived notions of the mafia; a life of murder, gambling, male chauvinism, blackmail and corruption, can tell the tale of what might be “the greatest family movie ever made”. Appealing to our sense of intrigue, the audience, as onlookers inside such a secretive, often glamorised world, respond not with repulsion but instead are enticed to feel a sense of loyalty to the family including us in the environment where mobsters are “never to tel...
In Melina Marchetta’s, 1993 coming of age story, Looking for Alibrandi. Josie, the protagonist of the novel, finds it complicated to belong to her caecilian culture, and heritage, her mid class status, and being on a scholarship at St Martha’s also has a quite a big impact on her as well. As Josie grows throughout the novel she starts to realise being an “Alibrandi” isn’t what she expected.
Michele's compassion is his most prominent characteristic that makes him appealing to the reader. Throughout the novel, he exhibits empathy well beyond his years, often making readers forget that he is just nine. This can be seen clearly in three main instances. First, when he goes after his sister when she has fallen over (pg. 4) despite his own fears. Secondly, offering to complete the forfeit in place of Barbra when Skull forces her to complete an embarrassing forfeit. Finally, and most evidently, when he takes care of Filippo. This makes for a positive contrast with the rest of Acqua Traverse who seem to lack any compassion. When describing places and characters he reveals his unique way of viewing things that demonstrates his childlike imagination and innocence. He often combines reality and fantasy, such as when describing the Wicked Witch' (pg. 89) to Maria.
Good morning/afternoon. Looking for Alibrandi is a connecting, intriguing novel written by Melina Marchetta. This story portrays a seventeen year old girl, Josephine Alibrandi, illegitimate and in her final year at a wealthy Catholic School. This is the year her father comes back into her life, it is the year she falls in love, the year she develops her identity, the year she discovers her family’s past and the year she sets herself free. Throughout the novel, Melina Marchetta portrays many characters that are faced with forces or boundaries that are within and beyond their control. These character’s such as Josephine Alibrandi, Nonna Katia and Michael Andretti, all have varying and occasionally similar forces within and beyond their control.
He is a tranquil person at heart, and cannot bear to see mass suffering, whether it is of science or religion. Subsequently, aside from being calm, Ventresca is a religious person with an abundance of faith in God. To start with, one reason for this is that he attended Mass everyday as a child. The author indicated, “Carlo’s mother, Maria, brought him to Mass every day. The church was Carlo’s home” (Brown 209). This quote exhibits that the Chamberlain’s mother taught him to have faith in God. She impacted his life and career choice. Not only this, but she sacrificed having a son dedicated to her in order to have a son devoted to God. Ventresca’s mother had to put aside her protective intentions as a mother and have a selfless heart to give up her son to God. Next, another reason Ventresca is faithful is that he never breaks a promise to God. As dictated in the book, “Carlo promised her he would never break a promise to God. He loved his mother more than anything in the world. She was his holy angel” (Brown 209). This quote shows that Ventresca and his mother had a mutual relationship. They had a bond of unconditional love amongst
“Look out for the people who look out for you. Loyalty is everything.” In the book, Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes by Chris Crutcher, Ms. Lemry is loyal. Ms.Lemry is a teacher and a swim coach for a school. She is a teacher who stays loyal to her students. She is loyal because she cares for her students who are in her class. Ms. Lemry stands by Sarah at all times and is there for her. Sarah is a girl who got abused by her dad when she was younger. Sarah’s father when she was younger out her face on the stove. Sarah was always scared of her father and she still is because she is afraid of her dad coming back and killing her. Sarah was about to go on the train and Lemry was there to inform her to not get on the train. Her class is called CAT known
Antonio Márez, the main character of Bless Me, Ultima by Rudolfo Anaya, begins the Departure element of Joseph Campbell’s Hero Cycle when he initiates his journey to adulthood. He questions whether he belongs to his mother’s family, the Lunas, who live as farmers, or his father’s family, the Márezes, who freely wander the land. His care for his family demonstrates his maturity in attempting to always do the best he can for everyone. Although his parents each want him to follow their families’ paths, they remain absent from Antonio’s true journey of understanding his own thoughts and beliefs, leaving him “frightened to be alone” (Anaya 7); the lack of parental support through his personal conflict leads him to have trouble knowing how to address his confusion, but it also causes Antonio to develop an independence that most people do not possess.
The Bicycle Thief is a portrait of Italy's collective consciousness, haunted by its disturbing past and disillusioned towards its future. Works Cited for: "The ' URL:http://www.film.queensu.ca/Critical/Bonikowski.html.
Stolen Children is a Gianni Amelio’s magnum opus and a tragic salute to neorealism. The film follows a carabinieri, Antonio, who was assigned to escort two southern orphans in northern Italy to a Catholic orphanage, but when that proved to be unsuccessful, he took it in his hands to escort the children back to southern Italy. Gianni, much like De Sica, explores the issue of failed institutions that are fundamental to a contemporary society or an individual in need of help. When these central institutions, such as the church or law, begin to deteriorate, so does the community that relies on them. He also makes a point of criticizing post-modern institutions, such as the role of media in current society and its socio-cultural impact. This criticism begins the fundamental conversation, postmodern society should concern itself with to improve one’s present civilization.
Theme: Situations and surroundings can shatter the innocence of friendship, but more the identity of the individuals.
Andrea levy, may not be the greatest writer, but she writes from her heart and this makes her books extremely fascinating to read. It is not a surprise that the novel won both the Or...
Italian didn’t know if that was a good thing or not. While perhaps the sun’s absence meant a few less degrees, the ostensible lifelessness of everything around her was certainly less than uplifting. There was no blue sky above and seemingly no air to breathe. Above her head was a motionless, tyrannical, and humid drabness; the sun only a hope somewhere, a pale thumbprint, a mistake of a splotch. There wasn’t even the slightest hint that the uncomfortable, spongy atmosphere was going to spool itself up into a rain cloud or invigorating thunderstorm. There was not a whisper, not a sigh of wind. It was simply miserable...and she had to be out in it.
Maria was sitting up straight at her desk in the classroom. Her teacher was boasting of his position in the Party. He called on Marco to have him speak of his loyalty to Il Duce. Marco said the same phrases that he heard spoken by his father every day in favor of Il Duce. Maria looked out the window. She was not listening to her brother, but daydreaming. She pictured herself the wife of an accomplice of Mussolini, and knew that nothing would make her more proud. A successful future in the party would therefore be inevitable for her children.
The story opens up with the introduction of Connie, a rebellious 15-year-old girl who seemed to only care about makeup, boys, and anything else that did not include her ‘dull’ family. She would frequent areas where older teenagers would hang out; her and her friends on the prowl for anything they were not supposed to do. One night, while the girls were at a diner, Connie makes eye contact with a boy across the parking lot, thinking nothing of it. Although, it was not until the next day when this character, aptly named Arnold Friend, arrives at Connie’s house. In summary, Connie, home alone, greets him, and after much argument leaves with him as well. This chilling story of the events leading up to a young woman’s murder has caused much deliberation,