Peer Relationships

Child, Youth Issues
Communication
Literature

Peer Relationships

This paper analyzes the peer relationships of Vittorio Innocente in Nino Ricci's "Lives of the Saints" and of Paddy Clarke in Roddy Doyle's "Paddy Clarke, Ha, Ha, Ha".

2,084 words () | 2 sources | MLA | 2008 United States

Paper Summary:

The paper discusses how the peer relations of Vitto, the protagonist in Nino Ricci's "Lives of the Saints", are marred by bullying, recrimination and the threat of violence. The paper then looks at the friends of Paddy, the protagonist in Roddy Doyle's "Paddy Clarke, Ha, Ha, Ha", are both a stand-in for something his home life cannot provide and a relatively good source of solace and replenishment when things grow tense. The paper shows how these children are classic examples of embattled youngsters trying to find a refuge or safe-house in an inhospitable world.

From the Paper:

"In the opening pages of Ricci's arresting 1990 novel, we are made aware of the fact that Vittorio Innocente is an intelligent but rather rebellious and indolent boy who would rather be out of class sharing "smokes" with his friend, Fabrizio, then engaging in the burdensome task of acquiring an education (Ricci, 3). We also learn that "Vitto" has been born into fairly privileged circumstances; to wit, his mother is the daughter of the town mayor (Ricci, 11). Thus, the willful young man who lies at the center of the story is blessed with a measure of social standing that not all children his age are fortunate enough to enjoy. It may also be said that Vitto is spoiled, not by the standards of a North American, perhaps, but certainly spoiled by the standards of his community."