Looking for Alibrandi

osephine Alibrandi, a Catholic girl, narrates the novel in her final year of High school. She attends St Martha's, a wealthy catholic school in Sydney's eastern suburbs. Her academic scholarship ensures her place at the school as she is not as well off as the population of largely wealthy Anglo-Celtic girls that attend the school. Her Italian origin has been the reason for much persecution toward her in her life. Her background against the monied origins of her peers also provides much source of angst for Josie.

She lives in the inner-city suburb of Glebe with her single mother, who takes care of her. Their rather small dwelling is the source of some embarrassment for Josie.

Josie is essentially on a journey of discovery throughout the novel. This journey reveals much about herself, her family and the many lessons that she is yet to learn in her life. Her search for her own cultural identity is coupled with her struggle as a poor student among many wealthy ones.

Josephine also has a number of self-esteem issues that manifest themselves throughout the novel in her perceptions of the world. These issues are further complicated by her family situation. Issues that are dealt with include:

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discover the true nature of her family history. Josie views this as hypocrisy on the part of her grandmother, however we the readers are left to wonder if nonna's hypocrisy is a way of making up for her past sins, and a way of easing the pain of her failed marriage and the problems that have occurred in her family as a result. These contradictions are mirrored in the Italian community where a woman must wear black after her husband dies, however he is allowed to remarry. This act demonstrates that Josie does not understand that the Anglo girls have also inherited much tradition, good and bad, from their parents. Jacob Coote is local boy who lives in Redfern and goes to a Government high school. His death is an important part of Josie's discovery process as she comes to realise that while she is poor, she is also free to pursue any sort of life that she wants.

Relationships

In her interaction with others, Josie meets a range of people with their varied standing in the social order of Sydney.

Looking for Alibrandi - Study Notes Part 2

Cultural Issues

Josie's family is part of the Italian community in Sydney.

John has great expectation placed upon him by his family and suicide seems to only way out for him. While Josie's mother was still pregnant he left Sydney for Adelaide. Her grandmother settled in Australia with Francesco, a man that was 15 years older than she was and with whom she had been forced into a marriage with. Josie reacts badly to her mother seeing a man, and we can see that she still has much to learn. Josie in her discovery comes to find a parallel between certain parts of her life and that of her grandmothers.

Approximate Word count = 1556
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)

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