Alibrandi Essay

The novel, Looking for Alibrandi, by Melina Marchetta, conveys cultural boundaries that are evident in Australian society. Through the actions of the characters, these cultural boundaries are crossed. These characters are subject to discrimination due to their culture, the strict parental expectations, cultural traditions and events, morals and beliefs. The importance of relationships, family and respect, academic competition, sexual maturity, and identity and freedom are the main attitudes and values portrayed. Melina Marchetta’s purpose is to educate the readers on the discrimination of today’s society of a cultures morals, values, beliefs and traditions, and that crossing boundaries brings greater self knowledge leading to growth and emancipation. The reader is encouraged to fell satisfaction as Josie Alibrandi discovers her true identity and breaks free of her mothers and grandmother’s cultural boundaries, guidelines and strict expectations. The lack of interaction between two cultures is a cultural boundary still evident in the Australian Society. This cultural boundary is represented through many of the characters in the
However, the Italian adolescents, and in Josie"tms case, have guidelines and family expectations they have to live up to, for example, after school she has to visit her Nonna, dress, friends and the reputation of her family and the Alibrandi name. This is against the expectations of her Italian culture of the assumption that she will marry someone of the Italian background. It is though these regulations that Josie has to fight, these cultural boundaries are revealed. Respect is a cultural boundary that Josie"tms family holds upon her, and is presented through the characters of Josephine and Nonna Katia. " Josie crossed this boundary and hit her with her science book. This is seen in the Italian eye as disrespect to her Italian heritage. Josie also shows bitterness at Easter when other children receive chocolate eggs and as an alternative,...