Loss Of Innocence In I 'M Not Scared'

Topic: ‘I'm not scared,' is a rites of passage novel which charts Michele's journey from innocence into a maturity beyond his years.

Niccolo Ammaniti's ‘I'm not scared,' charts the life of a young boy named Michele Amitrano who has to deal with issues that are not a common occurrence of a 9yr old boy. Throughout the story we witness Michele's journey from childhood innocence into a maturity beyond his years. This is evident firstly through Michele's ability to stand up to his fears in order to support what he believes in. Secondly through Michele's realisation that the adult world is not as innocent as he first thought and the realisation that adults, in particular his father are capable of cruel violence. And finally through Michele's experiences with the fragility and virtue of trust. Throughout the story Michele is capable of standing up to his fears in
Michele places a great deal of trust in his friend Salvatore when he tells him about the boy in the hole. When Salvatore betrays him, 'Salvatore had betrayed me,' it shows Michele that unlike children who trust everyone in the adult world you can only trust those that you deeply love. Michele learns how important trust is between friends through his experiences with Fillipo. ‘I knew you would you promised.(Fillipo to Michele).' Michele's experiences with Fillipo teach him the virtue of having a friend to trust and rely on and how important it is to have a friend like this. More complex is the trust that Michele has in his father. Even though Michele knows that his father is lying to him Michele still trusts his father and bases this trust on his fathers essential goodness. This is an important part of Michele's character, the fact that he is receptive to those who try to regain his trust again. Michele realises that trust has to be remade which shows how mature he is for a 9yr old