The novel “I’m Not Scared” illustrates the harsh, brutal and dangerous lives of people living in
Acqua Traverse. Author Niccolo Ammaniti reveals how people in Acqua Traverse overcome their strongest adversary, poverty. Individuals who are poverty-stricken are motivated to act against their moral code to achieve a higher standard of living. Some will overcome this malicious force by acting against their moral conscience. In many circumstances, humans are often given the choice to decide but in “I’m Not Scared,” poverty has sparked the ambitions of many in Acqua
Traverse to become immoral.
Evidently, poverty victimizes everyone in Acqua Traverse, “a place forgotten by God and men.”
Poverty portrayed in Acqua Traverse is one having insufficient materials or one lacking family genuine relationships. In comparison to Salvatore’s wealth, protagonist Michele lacks a number of valuables. When Michele visits Salvatore’s villa, he is overwhelmed by Salvatore’s soccer team toys and become deeply jealous. From this, Michele concluded that “my father doesn’t love me” which demonstrates poverty can cause impecunious people to blame others for their hardship. Although
Salvatore’s opulence dominates everyone else in Acqua Traverse, he does not often get cordial love from his family. His parents force him to play piano and just buy him presents. Moreover, he does not talk with his parents in the house and just plays with toys by himself all day. Salvatore’s father is not often at home and his mother talks with other adults in Acqua Traverse. Poverty victimizes both characters where they both question their family’s love.
Individuals are never forced but are given the choice whether to follow or act against their moral conscience in any circumstances due to poverty. Pino Amitrano, a man too stricken by poverty is driven by full of aspirations. Pino wanted the best for his family and