ENGERISH ESSAY
engerish essay.lol.have fun XDIn the novel “I’m not scared’ by Niccolo Ammaniti, Michele faces numerous challenges to his conscience. Despite the continual treachery by his friends and family, Michele never stops trusting in human goodness. One of the several points that are in support of this argument is the betrayal of his father, Pino, when he found out that his father is in league with Filippo’s kidnappers. Secondly, Michele’s trust was betrayed by a close friend, Salvatore, for a driving lesson. And finally, Skull is shown to have betrayed Michele’s expectations.
Michele faces a moral dilemma between his father and Filippo-his father is one of the criminals who kidnapped Filippo. However, this does not cause Michele to lose heart-rather, Michele now brings hope to Filippo. This is symbolic as Michele chose to trust in humanity rather than to accept the darkness in the human heart. Michele disobeys his father to help Filippo. He tells Filippo that his mum still cared for him. “Um…Your mother says she loves you.” [Michele. pg 108] He also helps Filippo to clean himself up and to bring him out of the hole for a while. [pg 108, 112] “I’ll be back tomorrow” [Michele. pg 113] He continues to show goodness there by keeping Filippo from being lonely. He knows that kidnapping is wrong, and his continued efforts to help Filippo, shows Michele’s belief in human goodness. Moreover, by making his choice of helping Filippo, and his sacrifice by getting shot by his father represents Michele’s ideal was true- that humanity is not corrupt (human goodness), and can sacrifice themselves at will.
Michele faces another setback; Salvatore breaks his trust. He tells Felice about Michele’s secret concerning Filippo for a driving lesson. Salvatore Scardaccione “sold” [pg 147] Michele’s secret for a driving lesson despite the pact of eternal friendship they had vowed together. [pg 148] Michele is now being compared with the “older” people (Salvatore) “Salvatore and I were the same age, but to me he seemed older.”[pg 131] – The link with age and corruption-from Skull to Michele’s father. The author also attempts to show Michele’s coming of age with Salvatore’s- Michele describes Salvatore as “seemingly older”, which would signify the corruption in Salvatore. This is made clearer when Salvatore gives a line: “I’m not interested in loonies in holes.’ [Salvatore. pg 135] This contrasts with Michele’s pure childhood innocence, as Michele still cares about Filippo. Despite his betrayal, Michele still continues to believe in human goodness as he still keeps his vow to Salvatore and talks to him, and even made room for him while they were playing a game with the other children. [pg 171] With this, Niccolo Ammaniti shows Michele’s innocent trust in goodness present in human hearts.
Michele’s expectation of others is again betrayed when Skull asks for an unreasonable forfeit from Barbara twice-to show them her private parts. “Either show us your tits or get lost”. [Skull. pg 10] “This time you’re going to show us your slit” [Skull. pg 19] Michele is shocked by this. “We froze, as if a wind from the North Pole had suddenly blown into the valley.” [Michele. pg 19]-and thus is betrayed by Skull. From Michele’s view, the forfeit Skull had given was something “dirty”-something morally wrong and unnecessarily harsh. [pg 19] Michele chooses to save Barbara from the second forfeit by having a second vote after struggling with his inner self, in order to stop Skull’s revenge, even if it means taking the punishment himself.
In conclusion, the novel “I’m not scared” by Niccolo Ammaniti presents the character Michele. Though the various betrayals he had gone through made by his close friends and family, Michele is still shown to be unwavering in his faith for the goodness within human hearts.
posted by flame on water @ 7:46 PM
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