Looking For Alibrandi Theme Essay
Melina Marchetta’s novel, Looking for Alibrandi, explores a number of topical themes. The three main themes explored in the novel include prejudice, Jose’s social endeavours and searching for one’s self.
Firstly Melina Marchetta explores the theme of prejudice. Josephine often experienced prejudice in this novel, wether it is coming from a family environment or her school Jose has been subject of prejudice. As a result Jose often feels demoralized and excluded. Josie at times has also had preconceived ideas about the people around her. Josie first thought of Nonna as an over caring, selfish grandmother who is only worried about herself, As Looking For Alibrandi progresses, and Josie finds out about her Nonna’s past with Francesco and Marcus Sandford. Josie begins to understand that Nona’s life wasn’t as easy as Josie first thought. Josie finds out how hard Nonna’s early life was, with her husband Francesco who took her out home her home in Sicily and away from her family in to Northern Queensland where was and outcast Josie’s Nona was often treated badly “He treated (her) like one of his farm animals”. Josie realizes that Francesco can’t be her father “You were the one who told me about the four months you had to spend on your own. Four months in summer from November to February”. But then today when everyone …show more content…
was joking about Mama being conceived on New Year’s Day, I thought it was impossible. How could Mama possibly be conceived on New Year’s Day when Nonna was up north and that her true grandfather is Marcus Sandford? “You slept with Marcus Sandford”. When she finds this out she wants to hurt, embarrass Nonna like she did to Christina when she found out that she was pregnant with Josie. However after hearing Nonna’s story and the way Francesco treated her, Josie begins to forgive Nonna and realizes that throughout her life, Nonna was only trying to protect Christina the best way she knew how. Josie begins to see Nonna not as an over caring, selfish grandmother who is only worried about herself, but as a mother who tried to protect her daughter the best way she knew possible. Josie and Nonna begin a new friendship together, promising not to tell Josie’s mother Christina. Josie realises that she is “loved by two of the strongest women she would ever meet”.
As Josie proceeds through life, but more especially her H.S.C year at St Martha’s, Josie alters her thoughts on many people in many ways she never thought possible. As Looking For Alibrandi proceeds Josie realises that people aren’t always what they appear to be (John’s suicide, Michael Andretti’s re-appearance and Nonna’s deep dark secret), and that as time changes people also change. Some for the better and some for the worst.
The second theme in this novel is Josephine’s social life wether the relationships are platonic or romantic, it can easily be seen that this is one of the most important themes in this book.
Among the many relationships Josephine develops throughout the novel, the relationship she establishes with Michael Andretti her father is by far the most important. The bond between Michael and Jose doesn’t really exist until Josie hits carly in the face with her science book, breaking her nose and most likely her modeling career, although carly provoked the attack her father is determined to sue Jose. As Michael comes to redeem her, Josie feels proud to have a
father
“I knew how it felt walking alongside one’s father. It was a great feeling”. The bond between the two grows even further when Michael picks Josie up after her ten minute date with Jacob. The closeness between the two flourishes as the novel progresses. The second most important relationship is closer to the beginning of the novel Josie is attracted to John Barton. “John, love of my life, Barton”, but John’s complaints about life “This life is shit”, “I hate this shit life” coupled with, Michael Andretti’s and, especially Jacob Coote’s entrance into the novel, Josie’s feelings towards John shift, Josie becomes less attracted to John. “I don’t know if it was Jacob, but I wasn’t attracted to him as I used to be”,And sees him as more of a big brother. John’s suicide has a dramatic effect on Josie. Josie thought that John was always going to be there for her, that he was going to Sydney University with her, to study law together. Josie thought that John’s complaining about his life was just a phase in his until he took his life. “John’s dead. John Barton is dead”. At first Josie blames herself for John’s death “I should have realized,” but after a lot of reassurance from Michael and Christina, Josie discovers that it was his decision to take his own life.
it doesn’t matter whether I Josephine Andretti who was never an Alibrandi, who should have been a Sanford and who may never be a Coote. It matters who I feel like I am – and I feel like Michael and Christina’s daughter and Katie’s granddaughter; Sera Anna and Lee’s friends and Robert’s cousin. You know, a wonderful thing happened to me when I reflected back on my year. ‘One day’ came. Because finally I understood. (261)
Firstly Melina Marchetta explores the theme of prejudice. Josephine often experienced prejudice in this novel, wether it is coming from a family environment or her school Jose has been subject of prejudice. As a result Jose often feels demoralized and excluded. Josie at times has also had preconceived ideas about the people around her. Josie first thought of Nonna as an over caring, selfish grandmother who is only worried about herself, As Looking For Alibrandi progresses, and Josie finds out about her Nonna’s past with Francesco and Marcus Sandford. Josie begins to understand that Nona’s life wasn’t as easy as Josie first thought. Josie finds out how hard Nonna’s early life was, with her husband Francesco who took her out home her home in Sicily and away from her family in to Northern Queensland where was and outcast Josie’s Nona was often treated badly “He treated (her) like one of his farm animals”. Josie realizes that Francesco can’t be her father “You were the one who told me about the four months you had to spend on your own. Four months in summer from November to February”. But then today when everyone …show more content…
was joking about Mama being conceived on New Year’s Day, I thought it was impossible. How could Mama possibly be conceived on New Year’s Day when Nonna was up north and that her true grandfather is Marcus Sandford? “You slept with Marcus Sandford”. When she finds this out she wants to hurt, embarrass Nonna like she did to Christina when she found out that she was pregnant with Josie. However after hearing Nonna’s story and the way Francesco treated her, Josie begins to forgive Nonna and realizes that throughout her life, Nonna was only trying to protect Christina the best way she knew how. Josie begins to see Nonna not as an over caring, selfish grandmother who is only worried about herself, but as a mother who tried to protect her daughter the best way she knew possible. Josie and Nonna begin a new friendship together, promising not to tell Josie’s mother Christina. Josie realises that she is “loved by two of the strongest women she would ever meet”.
As Josie proceeds through life, but more especially her H.S.C year at St Martha’s, Josie alters her thoughts on many people in many ways she never thought possible. As Looking For Alibrandi proceeds Josie realises that people aren’t always what they appear to be (John’s suicide, Michael Andretti’s re-appearance and Nonna’s deep dark secret), and that as time changes people also change. Some for the better and some for the worst.
The second theme in this novel is Josephine’s social life wether the relationships are platonic or romantic, it can easily be seen that this is one of the most important themes in this book.
Among the many relationships Josephine develops throughout the novel, the relationship she establishes with Michael Andretti her father is by far the most important. The bond between Michael and Jose doesn’t really exist until Josie hits carly in the face with her science book, breaking her nose and most likely her modeling career, although carly provoked the attack her father is determined to sue Jose. As Michael comes to redeem her, Josie feels proud to have a
father
“I knew how it felt walking alongside one’s father. It was a great feeling”. The bond between the two grows even further when Michael picks Josie up after her ten minute date with Jacob. The closeness between the two flourishes as the novel progresses. The second most important relationship is closer to the beginning of the novel Josie is attracted to John Barton. “John, love of my life, Barton”, but John’s complaints about life “This life is shit”, “I hate this shit life” coupled with, Michael Andretti’s and, especially Jacob Coote’s entrance into the novel, Josie’s feelings towards John shift, Josie becomes less attracted to John. “I don’t know if it was Jacob, but I wasn’t attracted to him as I used to be”,And sees him as more of a big brother. John’s suicide has a dramatic effect on Josie. Josie thought that John was always going to be there for her, that he was going to Sydney University with her, to study law together. Josie thought that John’s complaining about his life was just a phase in his until he took his life. “John’s dead. John Barton is dead”. At first Josie blames herself for John’s death “I should have realized,” but after a lot of reassurance from Michael and Christina, Josie discovers that it was his decision to take his own life.
it doesn’t matter whether I Josephine Andretti who was never an Alibrandi, who should have been a Sanford and who may never be a Coote. It matters who I feel like I am – and I feel like Michael and Christina’s daughter and Katie’s granddaughter; Sera Anna and Lee’s friends and Robert’s cousin. You know, a wonderful thing happened to me when I reflected back on my year. ‘One day’ came. Because finally I understood. (261)