Looking For Alibrandi Analysis Essay Example
Looking For Alibrandi Analysis Essay Example

Looking For Alibrandi Analysis Essay Example

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The central theme of "Looking for Alibrandi" centers on Josie's experiences as she encounters various challenges in her life. These obstacles encompass accepting her cultural heritage, managing relationships with loved ones and acquaintances, establishing a connection with her father, and determining her place in society. Through direct confrontation of these issues, Josie goes through personal development and adopts a more positive outlook on life, while also redefining her roles within her family and community.

At the beginning of Looking for Alibrandi, Josie's struggle with her heritage is evident. She experiences a sense of uncertainty about where she belongs and longs to assimilate. "I think my situation was even more challenging. Because my mother was born in Australia, the Italians didn't fully accept us as one of them. Yet, because my grandparents were born in It

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aly, we weren't completely Australian either."

"At times she is ashamed of her Italian heritage. For instance, she feels overwhelmed and embarrassed by tomato day, the family gathering dedicated to making and preserving tomato sauce, saying 'Tomato day. Oh god, if anyone ever found out about it I’d die.' However, as the narrative unfolds, Josie undergoes personal growth and begins to embrace and feel proud of her Italian heritage. She refers to herself as '…an Australian with Italian blood flowing rapidly through my veins. I’ll say that with pride because it’s pride that I feel.'"

In the beginning of the book, Josie reveals that she and her mother live together despite her mother's "unmarried" status. She has mixed feelings towards her father, whom she knows about but has never come across: "The idea of meeting him made me feel sick, even though I longe

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for it." When they eventually meet, Josie refuses his presence and they reach a mutual understanding: "You stay away from my life, and I'll do the same." Her decision to reject him is based on her concern for her mother's welfare.

Josie reaches out to her father for help after an incident at school, and he readily lends a hand. Throughout the narrative, Josie develops a deeper comprehension and admiration for her father, resulting in profound sentiments of love and respect towards him. She articulates this change by declaring, "But I find myself growing fonder of Michael Andretti with each passing day. I now adore him twice as much as I did maybe a month ago..." Josie acknowledges the shift in how she perceives and feels about her father.

Despite occasional arguments, Josie and her mother have an unbreakable and profound bond. They both acknowledge and embrace their love for each other, with Josie believing that her mother is the only person who truly accepts her for who she is. Throughout the novel, their relationship remains steadfast and reliable as they possess a deep understanding of one another. Josie expresses genuine gratitude for her mother's unique care, acknowledging this mutual understanding.

'I may not enjoy it, but I comprehend,' expresses Josie. Initially, she had a strong dislike for her Nonna due to her mother's mistreatment. (Nonna and Nonno had expelled Christina from the house at the age of seventeen while she was expecting.) Josie's tolerance for her Nonna is low, and she disapproves of her constant dwelling on the past and complaining about how poorly she is treated by both Josie and her mother.

"She drives me crazy. She's

starting to tell me all those boring Sicily stories. If she tells me one more time how she was beautiful, I'll puke." Later in the book, Josie realizes that Nonna Katia has lied about her mother's real father and she becomes very angry. "'I hate you,' I shouted.

The use of these very short sentences in 'Not because of my life. But because of my mother’s,' contributes to a heightened emotional impact, as Josie reflects on the situation and converses with Nonna. Ultimately, Josie finds it in her heart to forgive her mother and perceives her as more vulnerable, acknowledging the hardships that have filled Nonna's life.

At the start of the year, Josie and three other girls created a group because they felt excluded from other school groups. Each girl was different and didn't fit in with any cliques. Josie had a strong bond with John Barton, who was attractive and popular but struggled with unhappiness because he felt compelled to pretend to be someone else. Tragically, it was this continuous pressure that led to John taking his own life.

Josie and Poison Ivy were rivals in school and had a difficult relationship. However, they were both friends with John, who saw that they were more similar than they thought. When John passes away, Josie's relationship with Poison Ivy begins to improve, and she realizes that Poison Ivy is not who she truly is anymore; she is just Ivy. They come to understand that their competition motivated them to succeed in the HSC. Ivy admits that she became the top student, the Dux, because she didn't want Josie to be. She worked harder because of her.

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emphasizes how much the person speaking was irritated by the other person. They admit that their only reason for excelling in English was to outshine the other person. It is mentioned that it took a significant tragedy for both individuals to realize their similarities. Josie, who took her position as vice-captain seriously, felt honored until she discovered that she had been elected as the school captain instead. This made her feel deceived and upset, leading to her being labeled as a 'sheep'.

After some reflection, she realized that in order to have been elected as school captain, she must be more popular and well-liked than she had thought. "You and your friends are influential. The girls admire you and imitate your actions."

"Until the principal said this, Josie had believed that she didn't belong. This experience further enabled her growth and transformation. Throughout the book, Josie maintained her aspiration to become a barrister, until the end when her ambition slightly diminished. Rather than attempting to determine her fate, she now approaches life and her future with a more relaxed attitude. 'However, I won't let it become an issue or a fixation. I will make my decision when my results are released.'"

But I am hopeful. By the conclusion of the book, Josie has experienced significant personal growth. Her newfound acceptance extends to her friends, family, and most importantly, herself and her cultural background. "Many things have changed in my household. I am uncertain as to why."

Maybe because I’ve changed. Josie has grown in her understanding of others and this has helped her to understand herself. “I thought my birth circumstances were something I'd have to bear for the

rest of my life, but what had happened between Nonna and Marcus Sandford made me realize that those circumstances had never been my burden; I had only chosen to make them mine. Each of these issues shows that Josie undergoes significant transformation throughout the novel. She handles these changes in a positive and mature way, demonstrating personal growth and a greater ability to handle challenging situations by the end of the novel. By Stephen Garrett

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