[Essay] I'm Not Scared (Emily)

Well, this isn't mine, but SOMEONE (ahem Emily) is too lazy to post on this blog (probably too lazy to read/use as well)

So I'll post it for her.

I assume its for I'm Not Scared.

“Papa is the bogeyman.” Is Pino Amitrano an evil man?

In the novel I’m Not Scared, Pino Amitrano is portrayed as the villain who committed a heinous crime and betrayed his son. Pino was a man of principles and integrity who loved his family whole heartedly, yet somehow he was overcome by greed and fear which prompted him to do malicious acts which made him evil man. Through various events that took place in the novel, Niccolo Amanniti showed how he descended into darkness enabling him to commit an evil sin of kidnapping Filippo and later attempting to kill him.

At the beginning, Pino was described by Niccolo Amanniti as a short but strong man who cared deeply for his family but this was later proven otherwise as the novel progressed. He was shown to have high family values as he treasures the times he has with his family. His loving side was shown through acts of giving and humour as he bought gifts for his children and joked with his family. He bought Marie a new pair of glasses and a “gondola” for Michele. He took back his role as the head of the house whole when he told Teresa not to worry about fetching the water and that he would go instead of the kids. “…I need to get something from the van anyways…” He all showed his fathering side when he played “soldier’s draw” to settle a little argument between Marie and Michele. Through these little gestures of affection, it does not seem like his is an evil man, however this was proven otherwise when he ignored Michele’s explanation as to why he was late. He had totally shut Michele off and told him to “get out”. His anger was the first sign of his capability for evil. He used vulgar words towards Michele “…what have you been rolling in...you smell like shit…” which further enforced his capability to inflict evil upon others in particular Filippo and Michele.

As the novel progressed further, Pino’s capacity to inflict evil up on other become clearer when Michele found Filippo and made the connection of this discovery with his father. The condition that Filippo was in is further proof that Pino is an evil man. Filippo’s skin was “…caked with mud…eyelids were sealed with blood…lips were dark and split…All his teeth had gone black.” Pino and the adults of Acqua Traverse treated Filippo like an animal and an item of trade. They did not give Filippo enough food, starving the boy in a dirty whole. They fed him scraps from home, for example the meat that Marie did not want to eat. They gave him just enough food to sustain his life long enough to complete their transaction. Pino further showed his capacity for evil when he confronted his son and blackmailed him into not visiting Filippo again. “…swear that you will not go back there…swear on your fathers head…if you go back….these people will kill him and it will be your fault” It was harsh of Pino to endowed such a heavy weight upon a nine year old child’s shoulder. Apart from this, Pino also tried to buy Michele’s silence buy purchasing a new red bike for him. Pino’s naïve thinking destroyed Michele’s innocence. He has mentally and physically harmed both his son and Filippo. He had betrayed Michele when he did not stand up again Sergio “…felt like I had been stabbed on the side…papa was the boss of Aqua Traverse” and then showed Michele his capability to harm when he said “Two ears we’ll cut off. Two.” His ability to be so cold and uncompassionate destroyed the respect Michele had for him as well as his innocence. At the end of the novel, Pino’s full capacity to inflict evil was shown when he set off to kill Filippo. He had lost the game of “soldier’s draw” and had become the executioner. However, there was a twist to the ending where he did not shoot Filippo but his own son. The fact that he shot the bullet shows that Pino is in fact an evil man.

Niccolo Amanniti captured every aspect of Pino’s character, vividly demonstrating his capability to inflict evil through various events. Pino chronically descended into darkness, which clouded his judgement thus destroying his principles as can be seen throughout the novel. His moral values were eroded by his greed, fear and desperation. It was his self destruction which made him and evil man.