Looking for Ali Brandi Essay- Sanya Dua Essays -

Looking for Ali Brandi Essay- Sanya Dua Malinda Marchetta's Looking for Alibrandi (1992) engages its teenage audience in Josephine's journey to maturation where she endures issues that are still relevant today. Through this the protagonist acknowledges how appearances can be deceiving. Also, she realizes the importance of inherited culture and the complexity of relationships. The text demonstrates that change is an integral part of growing up. Through the experiences of her protagonist Josephine's journey to maturation , Marchetta explores the enduring I dea that appearances don't always equate to reality which connects with the contemporary audience . John Barton appears to be popular', good looking' and possibly have everything in life' but Josephine realises that John faces family pressure and expectations to keep winning' and keep being the best' where the repetition of keep' reinforces the pressure from his family. Yet John reveals that his life is shit' and that he doesn't want to live anymore', a view that sharply juxtaposes with the one he outwardly projects. As Josephine matures she realises that in contrast to the reality of John's situation that she is "the luckiest person in the world' and "felt guilty" for misinterpreting his situation, and exaggerating her own problems. This demonstrates that sometimes keeping up with appearances creates conflict with family members. This can also be seen with Nona who always creates an idealistic image of herself where in reality the truth is completely the opposite as Josephine realises after Christiana's birthday wher e she emotively declares, " You -are-a-liarYou trained us to be respectful so pe ople would think we were perfect." Marchetta e ngages the responders through the complex nature of intercultural relations and the expectations of maintaining inherited culture relevant to a growing multicultural society. I nitially she experiences difficulty reconciling her Italian heritage with Australian values. Josephine is confronted with cultural expectations dictated by her Nonna which negatively affects her potential relationships, as seen through cumulative listing where she dismisses Jacob as a potential partner , '[he's]not going to be a solicitor' and is not Italian'. Her cultural difference is seen again when Jacob says I'v e never gone out with an ethnic girl" to which Josephine replies "don't you dare call me an ethnic girl. This is my country". Josephine struggles within school as she is culturally different, she m ust cope with derogatory labels such as wog' and new Australian' as she tries to find her identity. The protagonist is always pressured by her grandmot her with rules and regulations' such as she will get raped' if she goes out alone and therefore she struggles socially due to these demands her culture and family have as she is not allowed to go out like her friends are. This pressure is further demonstrated when her grandmother states in a sarcastic tone that " she's going to grow up, marry an Australian and her children will eat fish and chips". As she gains confidence and matures Josephine finds a balance between her two cultural influences, " No you can't hate what you're a part of. it will always be a part of me till the day I die". Marchetta explores the complex nature of famil y relationships that can characterize the lives of teenagers. Josephine has a challenging and distant relationship with her father as indicated when she shouts at him in a spiteful tone Only people close to me call me Josie'. Her disappointment and feelings of frustration are inferred from her angry tone " Don't you mock me' or make fun of the way I feel about my mother." The social expectation of emotional connection and care between parent and child is replaced by Josephine's lack of trust and respect for her father as she didactically declares that she doesn't want him near her'. Interestingly Josie is eventually able to reconcile her feelings and her early promise to keep out of' her father's life is later contrasted with he's ultra cool' and I feel like I am Michael ... Andretti's daughter'. Christina has a challenging relationship with her mother founded on the shame she feels about Josie's ill egitimacy this is denoted when Nonna is constantly interfering and criticizing Christina's life reinforcing that she