Looking For Alibrandi Change Essay
Essay
Why does change happen?
Change is a transition that affects all aspects of life and will constantly continue no matter how hard we try to stop it. Change can be demonstrated through both individual growth and the realisation of what is truly important in life. As we experience life altering events, it can influence our perception towards others as we reappraise our former thoughts, attitudes change. This is illustrated in the novel Looking for Alibrandi and the poem “My Father Began as a god” by Ian Mudie.
Growth is inevitable and change must happen whether it is physical or emotional. Once change happens, there are many unexpected events and experience that happens gradually. A key event in the novel Looking for Alibrandi that …show more content…
changes Josephine Alibrandi is her discovery of her grandmother Nonna’s past. At first Nonna is portrayed as a caring, nagging, selfish grandmother who is only worried about her, and how Josie’s behaviour will affect her reputation in the Italian community. She often interferes with Josie and Christina’s lives with her authority and is very traditional. Josie’s perspective about Nonna is reflected in her retort about Nonna’s comment about her behaviour on the beach. “if you and people like you …always worrying what other people might think.. always talking about other people.” the repetition of ‘always’ and her stereotyping of Nonna indicates her lack of understanding and her immaturity.
Throughout the novel, Josie gradually finds out about Nonna’s past with Francesco and Marcus Sandford. Josie begins to understand that Nona’s life wasn’t as easy as Josie first thought that it was. Josie finds out about how hard Nonna’s early life was, with her older husband Francesco who took her away from her family, alienated her and was treated badly. “He treated (her) like one of his farm animals”. The simile reflects Josie’s empathy towards her grandmother and her changing attitude.
As we hear Nonna’s story about her past, Josie then realises that she doesn’t know everything and at the same time discovers many things about herself and eventually forgives Nonna. Josie discovers that her pervious thoughts were wrong, for example, labelling and stereotyping individuals by their education, age, class or gender and as the result her arrogance decreases and she views people differently, causing a lot of positive changes in her life. She has matured from being a very stubborn and hot-tempered girl to a more responsible and experienced young woman.
Life changing moments add to the experiences which alters perspectives. One these moments which heightens her self esteem is meeting her biological father and getting to know him. At first meeting, her father Michael Andretti is not very happy in seeing Josie and doesn’t want anything to do with her and does not want to even acknowledge her existence.” … I do not want to see her.. don’t want to love her.. do not want a complication in my life..” the repetition of ‘do not’ shows that Michael is very negative. Josie confronts him and is very hurt by his cold dismissal and her father states he will stay out of her life but in reality “part of her wanted to see him again.”
Prior to her confrontation, a ‘he’ was always referred because he played no part in her life and was metaphorically referred to as ‘myth’ because Josie couldn’t put a face to a name. Josie saw him as being an irresponsible man who left a pregnant woman to cope with all the problems, and didn’t bother to even contact them. Josie resented her father her whole life because she believed this was the reason, but she finds out he didn’t even know Christina was pregnant .This drastically changed the way how Josie saw her father.
During a fight with Carly Bishop, Josie re-sorts to her father for help and that’s when Josie’s perception changes towards her father. “ ..knew how it felt walking alongside one’s father.” Given the chance to get to know her father she realised that they had a lot in common; she wanted to be a barrister and resemble him. Putting her hostility aside, Josie realised they could be friends and through their meetings and shared experiences, they were able to slowly accept each other. Michael changes perspective too as he begins to bond with her and both enjoys each other’s company. Through listening to Michael, Josie has discovered many things about herself and taking another look at others who she once thought, had everything.
As change continues to happen, our attitudes change and we revaluate our former thoughts and beliefs to adapt to the changing surroundings. John Barton’s death affected Josephine deeply and she was forced to revaluate her early beliefs regarding him. At the start of her HSC exams, she learns that John has committed suicide. The journal style narrative allows the reader to see Josie's changing perspective of John as the novel progresses. Prior to john’s death Josie believes John has it all as he is School captain, intelligent, wealthy, good looking and popular. After his death Josie’s emotions can be seen from the first person. At first she is devastated and cannot understand why someone who never had any problems, a carefree life would commit suicide. But after recovering from the shock of Johns death, Josie is able to see beyond her anger and empathise with John s feeling of isolation. He lacked self belief and was depressed after being told what to do, think and behave, John could not take it anymore. He saw no meaning to his life and lacked courage to determine his own future. “the future is mine, to do whatever I want with it”. With personal pronouns, it gives his perspective, but in fact he is not taking control of his life but giving up his life.
Josie realises life itself cannot be taken for granted, and it was her that was stopping her emancipation. After john’s death she came to a decision. First person narrative enforces that Josie believes in fighting for her emancipation. “I remembered … about emancipation.. he had to die to achieve this… I’m living to achieve mine”. By the end of looking for Alibrandi, Josie realises that she achieved emancipation. “ …thinking back..the year I realised I was emancipated long ago. Wasn’t at a particular point but at several.” A variety of events and experiences gradually happen throughout the novel to change Josie as she starts to mature and understand the people in her life. Her previous preconceptions are shed as we see the grown up Josie.
Similarly, changing attitudes are clearly shown in “My father began as a god” when the poet revaluates his beliefs concerning his father.
Unlike Josie, initially he had an elevated view of his father. A Simile is used to show that as a young child his father was regarded “as a god”. A biblical allusion is used to compare his father’s teachings with the Ten Commandments. “..laws were immutable..brought down from Sinai”. When the poet reaches adolescence his attitude to his father changes and this is made clear by the repetition in “shrank and shrank”. Not only does Mudie’s father appear physically smaller to his grown son, his idea’s no longer were seen as immutable. The negative tone with the words “foolish small old man” is used to highlight Mudie’s dismissal of his father.
Increasing modality is used in “strange.. to stranger..and strangest tells us that he experienced a further change as he grew older. Like Josie, the poet encountered changing circumstances and growth to see his father in a new light. As an adult himself, the poet realises that his father wasn’t infallible and accumulation is used to emphasise his father’s positive qualities such as “honest, generosity and integrity”. As a person grows and mature they undergo experiences, their perception has changed too just like Josie in Looking for
Alibrandi.
Change is triggered by many events and experiences that can alter our perception to others and also through growth see ourselves differently. Once our perception is changed our former beliefs and thought towards others are revaluated to adapt to our changing surroundings. These texts have shaped our view about the concept of change and also that change is inevitable.
Why does change happen?
Change is a transition that affects all aspects of life and will constantly continue no matter how hard we try to stop it. Change can be demonstrated through both individual growth and the realisation of what is truly important in life. As we experience life altering events, it can influence our perception towards others as we reappraise our former thoughts, attitudes change. This is illustrated in the novel Looking for Alibrandi and the poem “My Father Began as a god” by Ian Mudie.
Growth is inevitable and change must happen whether it is physical or emotional. Once change happens, there are many unexpected events and experience that happens gradually. A key event in the novel Looking for Alibrandi that …show more content…
changes Josephine Alibrandi is her discovery of her grandmother Nonna’s past. At first Nonna is portrayed as a caring, nagging, selfish grandmother who is only worried about her, and how Josie’s behaviour will affect her reputation in the Italian community. She often interferes with Josie and Christina’s lives with her authority and is very traditional. Josie’s perspective about Nonna is reflected in her retort about Nonna’s comment about her behaviour on the beach. “if you and people like you …always worrying what other people might think.. always talking about other people.” the repetition of ‘always’ and her stereotyping of Nonna indicates her lack of understanding and her immaturity.
Throughout the novel, Josie gradually finds out about Nonna’s past with Francesco and Marcus Sandford. Josie begins to understand that Nona’s life wasn’t as easy as Josie first thought that it was. Josie finds out about how hard Nonna’s early life was, with her older husband Francesco who took her away from her family, alienated her and was treated badly. “He treated (her) like one of his farm animals”. The simile reflects Josie’s empathy towards her grandmother and her changing attitude.
As we hear Nonna’s story about her past, Josie then realises that she doesn’t know everything and at the same time discovers many things about herself and eventually forgives Nonna. Josie discovers that her pervious thoughts were wrong, for example, labelling and stereotyping individuals by their education, age, class or gender and as the result her arrogance decreases and she views people differently, causing a lot of positive changes in her life. She has matured from being a very stubborn and hot-tempered girl to a more responsible and experienced young woman.
Life changing moments add to the experiences which alters perspectives. One these moments which heightens her self esteem is meeting her biological father and getting to know him. At first meeting, her father Michael Andretti is not very happy in seeing Josie and doesn’t want anything to do with her and does not want to even acknowledge her existence.” … I do not want to see her.. don’t want to love her.. do not want a complication in my life..” the repetition of ‘do not’ shows that Michael is very negative. Josie confronts him and is very hurt by his cold dismissal and her father states he will stay out of her life but in reality “part of her wanted to see him again.”
Prior to her confrontation, a ‘he’ was always referred because he played no part in her life and was metaphorically referred to as ‘myth’ because Josie couldn’t put a face to a name. Josie saw him as being an irresponsible man who left a pregnant woman to cope with all the problems, and didn’t bother to even contact them. Josie resented her father her whole life because she believed this was the reason, but she finds out he didn’t even know Christina was pregnant .This drastically changed the way how Josie saw her father.
During a fight with Carly Bishop, Josie re-sorts to her father for help and that’s when Josie’s perception changes towards her father. “ ..knew how it felt walking alongside one’s father.” Given the chance to get to know her father she realised that they had a lot in common; she wanted to be a barrister and resemble him. Putting her hostility aside, Josie realised they could be friends and through their meetings and shared experiences, they were able to slowly accept each other. Michael changes perspective too as he begins to bond with her and both enjoys each other’s company. Through listening to Michael, Josie has discovered many things about herself and taking another look at others who she once thought, had everything.
As change continues to happen, our attitudes change and we revaluate our former thoughts and beliefs to adapt to the changing surroundings. John Barton’s death affected Josephine deeply and she was forced to revaluate her early beliefs regarding him. At the start of her HSC exams, she learns that John has committed suicide. The journal style narrative allows the reader to see Josie's changing perspective of John as the novel progresses. Prior to john’s death Josie believes John has it all as he is School captain, intelligent, wealthy, good looking and popular. After his death Josie’s emotions can be seen from the first person. At first she is devastated and cannot understand why someone who never had any problems, a carefree life would commit suicide. But after recovering from the shock of Johns death, Josie is able to see beyond her anger and empathise with John s feeling of isolation. He lacked self belief and was depressed after being told what to do, think and behave, John could not take it anymore. He saw no meaning to his life and lacked courage to determine his own future. “the future is mine, to do whatever I want with it”. With personal pronouns, it gives his perspective, but in fact he is not taking control of his life but giving up his life.
Josie realises life itself cannot be taken for granted, and it was her that was stopping her emancipation. After john’s death she came to a decision. First person narrative enforces that Josie believes in fighting for her emancipation. “I remembered … about emancipation.. he had to die to achieve this… I’m living to achieve mine”. By the end of looking for Alibrandi, Josie realises that she achieved emancipation. “ …thinking back..the year I realised I was emancipated long ago. Wasn’t at a particular point but at several.” A variety of events and experiences gradually happen throughout the novel to change Josie as she starts to mature and understand the people in her life. Her previous preconceptions are shed as we see the grown up Josie.
Similarly, changing attitudes are clearly shown in “My father began as a god” when the poet revaluates his beliefs concerning his father.
Unlike Josie, initially he had an elevated view of his father. A Simile is used to show that as a young child his father was regarded “as a god”. A biblical allusion is used to compare his father’s teachings with the Ten Commandments. “..laws were immutable..brought down from Sinai”. When the poet reaches adolescence his attitude to his father changes and this is made clear by the repetition in “shrank and shrank”. Not only does Mudie’s father appear physically smaller to his grown son, his idea’s no longer were seen as immutable. The negative tone with the words “foolish small old man” is used to highlight Mudie’s dismissal of his father.
Increasing modality is used in “strange.. to stranger..and strangest tells us that he experienced a further change as he grew older. Like Josie, the poet encountered changing circumstances and growth to see his father in a new light. As an adult himself, the poet realises that his father wasn’t infallible and accumulation is used to emphasise his father’s positive qualities such as “honest, generosity and integrity”. As a person grows and mature they undergo experiences, their perception has changed too just like Josie in Looking for
Alibrandi.
Change is triggered by many events and experiences that can alter our perception to others and also through growth see ourselves differently. Once our perception is changed our former beliefs and thought towards others are revaluated to adapt to our changing surroundings. These texts have shaped our view about the concept of change and also that change is inevitable.