Looking for Alibrandi
Looking for Alibrandi is a novel in which reflects and comments to a majority of the social issues occurring in most communities around the world. The novel introduces the main character, Josephine Alibrandi as an intelligent and capable woman who is an Australian of Italian descent. Due to her background, she undergoes social issues such as experiencing stereotypes and social statuses.
The author, Melina Marchetta applies a variety of familiar and stereotypical events in the book. From cases such as the different characters, their characteristics and their reaction upon certain events that occur in the book. One great example of a stereotypical event in this book is the relationship between Josephine Alibrandi and Jacob Coote who is the school captain of a public school called Cook High. “He cracked two eggs on my glasses once” (32).
“But we danced to the point of exhaustion and it gave me the opportunity to look at him properly for the first time. His eyes weren’t a bluey green or hazelly green or of a mixed colour. They were just green.” (54). It is evident in these quotations that Josephine realises that she does not know Jacob Coote as well as she thought she did. Upon their first encounter several years back, Josephine had stereotyped Jacob as a troublemaker and a crook, which later on in the novel becomes a joke between them. This stereotypical event has been used by several films in the film industry; a man and a woman meet and they end up quarrelling and hold grudges against one another until the man saves the woman from danger and they fall in love and they get married.
This is not the only evidence that indicates a sign of stereotypical events that occurs in the novel. A great ind...
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...approval by their family and the people around are considered as the most common trend between teenagers around the world and are used throughout the novel. Josephine was first introduced to the reading knowing that she was unsure of her identity and how she was searching for acceptance from her grandmother due to her illegitimacy. Marchetta created Josephine’s characteristic as one that the readers can truly understand and allow them to be able to feel a connection and a relation between the characters in the novel and themselves; it can make them realize that this is a social issues that each generation of teenagers face on a daily basis. The characters in the novel accompanied by the themes such as stereotypes and social statuses supported the author’s idea of creating a novel in which comment on the social issues and reflect reality within the novel.
After reading the passage, “Clover”, by Billy Lombardo, a reader is able to describe a particular character’s interactions and analyze descriptions of this individual. In the passage, “Clover”, is a teacher, Graham. He, in his classroom, shares something that had occurred that morning. In this passage, the author, Billy Lombardo, describes interaction, responses, and unique characteristics and traits of the key character, Graham.
Melina Marchetta, the author of the novel ‘Looking for Alibrandi’ signifies the idea that the way people create meaning influences their perspectives and the perspective of others. The novel has an in depth look at the issues and the problems faced by the teenagers today which the main purpose is to increase the knowledge on “changing perspective”. Marchetta uses various narrative techniques such as dialogue, tone, and first person narrative to verify the deep understanding on how and why perspective changes over time.
Murphy, B. & Shirley J. The Literary Encyclopedia. [nl], August 31, 2004. Available at: http://www.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=2326. Access on: 22 Aug 2010.
‘’ Looking for Alibrandi ‘’ is a story in which Melina Marchetta, the author, the book presents and focus on a young teenager girl name Josephine Alibrandi, is trying to find her identity and belonging. Surrounded her story she must face with her cultural conflict “She’s too Australian to be Sicilian, but too Sicilian to truly be an Australian’’ said Josie, poised to react to her Italian background and her illegitimacy. Furthermore, the family is one of the large facts that impact on her identity including Michael (father) Nonna (Katie-grandmother).
It is my opinion that the main character moves from dislike of social divide, and a dislike of her elevated status, to complacency, and finally gratitude; and that these changes are brought on due to her own experiences of hardship. Throughout this essay I will attempt to demonstrate and rationalize this belief.
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.
"Looking for Alibrandi” by Melina Marchetta, tells the story of Josephine Albrandi, a seventeen-year-old girl who struggles to find her identity. Marchetta explores a range of conflicts through Josephine. Her struggles of her growing up racism and stereotypes of an Italians. Marchetta takes us on Josie's journey of self-discovery.
The protagonist, Rosaura belonging of a poor family is unknowingly isolated at a party by Señora Ines belonging of a rich family. Heker displays the separation through the use of foreshadowing and irony. Primarily, the author underlines the idea that people's relationships and conduct towards others are majorly affected by their position in society.
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.
Mandel, Miriam B. “Reductive Imagery in 'Miss Brill.'.” Studies in Short Fiction 26.4 (Fall 1989):
Italian Culture is present in the novel Looking for Alibrandi as Josephine’s family migrated from Italy to Glebe, a small town in Sydney Australia. Josephine (the protagonist) is a confused girl searching to find where she belongs in the two different cultures represented in the story. These cultures, being Australian and Italian, are very demanding on her. At the beginning of the story Josephine has difficulty accepting her family culture as a part of Australian multiculturalism. She becomes
‘Looking for Alibrandi’ is a young adult novel written by Melina Marchetta. It is a story about seventeen year old Josephine ‘Josie’ Alibrandi on her journey to finding herself. An inspiring idea in this novel is culture; the ignorance towards it, the restrictions because of it and trying to identify with one. The idea of culture is inspiring as it helps the audience to understand Josie’s feelings towards her ethnic background.
"At the very end of the novel- what is represented as being important? Find two quotes to illustrate this".
Jossie's inteligence and confidence are two unique qualities portrayed in this young girl, struggling with her identity. She is a remarkably imagitive young person possesing a quick temper. She is a confused girl searching to find where she belongs in the two different cultures. These cultures, being australian and italian, are very demanding on such a young girl, having to mould herself for each and find an equalibrium of both. She has major difficulties coping with the harsh reality of prejudice and these problems soon take their toll on her. These pressures continue with her living a life in a prestigious private school, battling to balance herself in a middle class life.
Stylistically, the book is arranged in rotating chapters. Every fourth chapter is devoted to each individual character and their continuation alo...