Looking for Alibrandi Themes

Relationships…Parent-Child  Fathers…  Read page 65  What doesn’t Michael want in his life?  Why should Josie “cringe”?  Find quotes from the book that illustrate Josie’s and John Barton’s relationships with their fathers. What similarities and differences are there?

 There are similarities and differences in Josie’s relationship with Michael when compared to John’s with Mr Barton.  Until the later stages of the novel neither father has any real understanding of their child. However, once Michael moves past his initial shock at discovering he is the father of a 17 year old he does seek a deeper connection with his daughter. Josie and Michael forge a deeper relationship based on their understanding of one another as people. Allowing Michael into her life allows Josie to grow as a person and gives Christina some much needed support.  Both fathers have high expectations of their children. Mr Barton expects John to achieve the things he has; to follow in his footsteps. This places a great deal of stress on John who feels extremely pressured resulting in his drastic actions. Michael’s expectations of Josie are very different… he wants her to be a well-rounded person with high moral standards of herself as well as others.

Aside…  A third father that enters the picture is Christina’s. He unfairly treated her throughout her youth for a mistake Nonna made.  Like Josie, Christina is a child who lives without her real father and knowledge of him. This forges a parallel between the two. Marcus Sanford fathered Christina but this is kept from her and Christina never understands why her father could not love or accept her.

Relationships… Parent-Child Mothers… Many would say that Josie and her mother are two of the most prominent characters in the novel. Their relationship provides the story’s focal point. Many sections feature the two of them discussing issues, arguing and consoling each other. The great variety of roles a mother plays is strongly emphasised in the story. Admiration - pg 10 and 216- On page 10 we see Josie’s admiration of her mother based on the physical showing us that Josie is only looking at her on a superficial level. However, her second description shows development- she is now able to see her mother on more than a physical/superficial level, instead, she admires her courage and strength.

 Conflict - pg 11-13, The pair frequently argue but two are given in deeper detail. The first argument shows Christina acting as a mother- the fight quickly set aside. The second argument is a highly emotional one. Christina is going on her first date in 17+ years. Josie is deeply hurt by the notion that her mother feels the need for companionship outside of her and lashes out. This argument damages the relationship between mother and daughter for some time.

Continued…  Comforter and confidante - pg 14, 71-72, 113, 194, 237  Analyse what the incidents above show us about the relationship between Christina and Josie.  Manipulation - pg who is manipulating who and to what end?  Protector - pg 112, 121, 130- Christina spends a lot of time protecting her daughter from speculation and her mother. Does Josie protect Christina?

“When a person thinks more of the past than the future, they are finally old.”  Josie’s Nonna certainly discusses the past throughout the story. Re-read pgs 74-79, ,  Why do you think she emphasises the past so much?  Using the above definition, it’s probably true that ‘Nonna’ is old. Write an imaginary conversation with your grandmother that reflects her attitude to life.

The love interest…  Read pages 209 and 213.  Strong words capture Josie’s emotions. They give an edge to the intensity of her feelings. You can hear her shouting and visualise her aggressive stance.  Update your comparison table showing the similarities and differences that exist between Jacob and John.  Write a paragraph analysing Josie’s relationship with John. Provide supporting quotes.  Write a paragraph analysing Josie’s relationship with Jacob. Provide supporting evidence from the novel.

IDENTITY…  Our identity is an important part of each of us. Throughout the text Josie searches for answers to who she is. The lack of a father figure early in her life leaves her with holes in her understanding of herself. Josie feels caught between worlds; the Australian and the Italian; the rich and the poor; the traditional and the modern.  What incidents/events allow Josie to achieve her sense of emancipation and achieve an understanding of who she is? Give details.

Prejudice…  In ‘Looking for Alibrandi’ we see:  Josie believes that she is being judged because of her illegitimacy. However, readers learn that these judgments are predominantly made by Nonna and her peers. It is Nonna’s ongoing judgment of her that causes the lack of a father to be so hurtful for Josie. Ironically, the scholarship that Josie worked so hard for also puts her in the path of those that judge how she came into the world (a Catholic school).

Continued…  Secondly, racisim. Josie is both the judged and the judge. She makes assumptions about others based on their ‘lack’ of ethnicity. She judges Jacob for being a “European Australian” but what about John? Josie is also called a ‘wog’. Michael seeks to teach Josie that people are people and should not be judged without knowledge of each individual- a lesson that allows Josie to become more comfortable with herself.  Draw a mind map showing how racisim is explored throughout the novel.

Responsibility…  How does Josie learn valuable lessons about responsibility?  What are the lessons she learns?

Tradition versus Modernity  There are two sides of Josie and two worlds she lives within. Construct a table which explores the two sides/worlds of Josie as below: ItalianAustralian TraditionalModern Tomato day NonnaJosie FamilyJacob Mr Barton