Looking for Alibrandi and Being Sixteen Essay
Looking for Alibrandi & Being Sixteen Essay
The theme of change is explored throughout the novel Looking for Alibrandi by Melina Marchetta, Penguin Books 1992, where she confronts the readers about the variety of changes happening in Josephine Alibrandi’s life. Similarly Being Sixteen by Michael Khan also explores the changing of the persona as she grows up and changes her perspective. Change may be caused by many influences, such as family, culture, society and the environment; these influences are shown in both texts, therefore, change can be unexpected and unwanted but it must be understood that change is a natural part of life.
The novel Looking for Alibrandi effectively explores the theme of change, it is seen through the novel that Josephine Alibrandi, the main character and narrator, significantly changes as an individual, friend and family member as her perspective on life changes throughout the year. First person narration gives the responders an insight into Josie’s mind and reveals how her feelings change towards Jacob Coote and the changes that occur in her life. As she is “beginning to realize that things don’t turn out the way you want them to” the readers feel empathy and suspense as she narrates her inspirational story. Another technique Marchetta uses to create suspense and also add tension to the storyline is by adding ellipsis which leads up to what Josie reveals to the readers. As Josephine is almost peer pressured into becoming intimate with her short term boyfriend, she stops and says “until … maybe until I’m engaged”. The use of ellipsis illustrates the tension between Jacob and Josie, but reveals that Josie does not change even though Jacob is pressuring her, this adds to the character of Josie and proves to the audience that she is strong and will stand up for herself. Therefore Marchetta portrays that change may be hard to avoid, although the right change is needed to become the person we desire to be. Josephine is strong enough to
The theme of change is explored throughout the novel Looking for Alibrandi by Melina Marchetta, Penguin Books 1992, where she confronts the readers about the variety of changes happening in Josephine Alibrandi’s life. Similarly Being Sixteen by Michael Khan also explores the changing of the persona as she grows up and changes her perspective. Change may be caused by many influences, such as family, culture, society and the environment; these influences are shown in both texts, therefore, change can be unexpected and unwanted but it must be understood that change is a natural part of life.
The novel Looking for Alibrandi effectively explores the theme of change, it is seen through the novel that Josephine Alibrandi, the main character and narrator, significantly changes as an individual, friend and family member as her perspective on life changes throughout the year. First person narration gives the responders an insight into Josie’s mind and reveals how her feelings change towards Jacob Coote and the changes that occur in her life. As she is “beginning to realize that things don’t turn out the way you want them to” the readers feel empathy and suspense as she narrates her inspirational story. Another technique Marchetta uses to create suspense and also add tension to the storyline is by adding ellipsis which leads up to what Josie reveals to the readers. As Josephine is almost peer pressured into becoming intimate with her short term boyfriend, she stops and says “until … maybe until I’m engaged”. The use of ellipsis illustrates the tension between Jacob and Josie, but reveals that Josie does not change even though Jacob is pressuring her, this adds to the character of Josie and proves to the audience that she is strong and will stand up for herself. Therefore Marchetta portrays that change may be hard to avoid, although the right change is needed to become the person we desire to be. Josephine is strong enough to