Hey forum,
I'm a year 11 student, currently studying the text 'I'm Not Scared' -Ammaniti.
I recently did an essay-text response, handed it to the teacher, he handed it back, but with no letter grade.
Please read my essay and assign a letter grade.
No need to be polite.
Harsh criticism welcome, my english skills are average - well at least i think
Essay may be too short for year 11 standards.
Near the end of the novel Michele tells Filippo, 'There's nothing to be scared of'. To what extent does fear motivate the characters in the text?
Niccolo Ammaniti's novel _I'm not scared_ demonstrates the fears that each individual face. Throughout the novel it shows how fear is a prominent contributor to how the characters of the novel act and to what extent their actions are fuelled by their fear. Ammaniti demonstrates these fears through the characters of Barbara Mura who fears loneliness, the adults who fear entrapment and Michele who fears monsters. It is the actions of these characters that exhibit the capabilities of an individual manipulated by fear.
Barbara Mura fears loneliness to an extent that compels her to be exploited by her group of friends. She endures physically demanding and humiliating 'forfeits' in the effort to gain a sense of belonging amongst the other so-called friends. Barbara is constantly faced with these 'forfeits' that each time exhaust her morality yet she continues to go through the daily taunts and abuse. This illustrates that the fear of loneliness is a powerful motivator for individuals to forgo their moral code.
The adults of Acqua Traverse who fear entrapment show the actions driven by fear to a greater extent. The adult's fear of living in total isolation, poverty and hopelessness leads them to the desperate kidnapping of Filippo Carducci in the hope to escape the 'place forgotten by God and man'. The fear motivates Pino to even kidnap a young innocent boy much the same age as Michele, while Teresa obliges and does not argue whatsoever.
As the story progresses, Pino and Teresa start to lose their humanity. Pino who becomes scared of the consequences of the kidnapping and is worried that he may forever be trapped in Acqua Traverse results into violence, 'Two ears we'll cut off. Two,' he declares. Teresea on the other hand, terrified of what the men have done stays totally submissive to Pino. It is only till Michele is assaulted by Felice does she put up a fight and then threatens Pino, 'If he touches Michele again, I'll kill him and then I'll kill you'. Pino and Teresa's actions shows the detrimental harm on the individuals that results from fear and the willingness to do what's necessary to any extent to protect one's future and loved ones.
Throughout the novel, Michele's fear of monsters is ever present. His fears represent the fears of most children but it is only until he finds Filippo Carducci does his fears of monsters shift into reality. 'When it's dark the bogeyman comes out and takes the children away and sells them to the gypsies,' but the bogeyman was not a monster. 'Papa was the bogeyman. By day he was good but at night he was bad'.
Michele's realisation that the adults of Acqua Traverse are the materialisation of his fears, not monsters, is the moment he loses his innocence. His fear of the monsters - the parents, begins to grow but unlike the other characters, he is able to harness the fear to motivate him to save Filippo. Being as brave as 'Tiger Jack' Michele was able to use the fear to motivate himself and show the strength and integrity that no other child or adult had.
Ammaniti shows how fear plays a role in determining a character's action. Each situation shows the drastic gap in the extent fear compels them to do what they must do to eliminate the fear they face. Barbara endured humiliating 'forfeits' so that she didn't have to face the fear of being alone. The adults kidnapped Filippo in the hopes of their freedom, and to stop having to face the fear of entrapment. Michele disregarded his father and saved Filippo to conquer the monsters which in turn gave him strength. _I'm not scared_ shows the extent at which individuals are willing to go, whether it's negative or positive. Fear not only controls our actions but chooses our decisions and dictates the paths that individuals follow.
671 WORDS
Thanks!!!
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