The Theme of Internal Dispute in Looking for Alibrandi and a Court of Mist and Fury

Everyone has a different way of going through inner journeys and responding to the torments and struggles that arise along the way. Some people find everything too hard and would rather end their lives than continue in their misery. Others have the ability to push through their sufferings and discover who they actually are and who their real friends are. Coming out the other side of pain and trauma can influence your inner journey and helps a person come to term with who they are. Inner journeys that are prompted by pain and trauma, internal or external, can be seen in Melina Marchetta’s young adult novel Looking for Alibrandi, and the New York Times bestseller A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J Maas.

Some people find everything too hard and would rather end their lives than continue in their misery. Individuals get so caught up on their misfortunes and misery that they believe that they cannot continue on existing. An example of this idea can be seen in John Barton from Looking For Alibrandi. Josie believes that John lives a charmed life and therefore does not believe him when almost outright tells her he wants to commit suicide. After his death, Josie reads a letter from John saying, “I see the people and the blueness of the sky, but still nothing has changed, everything remains the same, I am alone”. The visceral imagery and symbolism in this quote accentuates his despair and detachment from society and foreshadows the possibility that he may eventually end his own life. Although John’s life seemed perfect, he obviously felt hopeless and depressed enough that he believed that it would be easier to end it all than to continue suffering.

Others have the ability to push through their sufferings and discover who they actually are and who their real friends are. Coming out the other side of pain and trauma can influence your inner journey and helps a person come to term with who they are. This is shown in Sarah J Maas’s young adult novel A Court of Mist and Fury. The protagonist, Feyre, is forced into physically and emotionally scarring events that forever change her outlook on life. The tricolon in, “I was not a pet, not a doll, not an animal. I was a survivor, and I was strong. I would not be weak, or helpless again I would not, could not be broken. Tamed.” allows Maas to emphasise Feyre’s determination and resolve to be okay and not to fall back down the rabbit hole that is depression. The truncation of the word “tamed” reinforces and emphasises her point that she will do as she pleases and will not be subject to anyone’s commands ever again. Unlike John Barton from Looking for Alibrandi, Feyre pushes through her hardships only to come out stronger than ever. She finds strength and support in her newfound friends and they help her heal and eventually thrive.

In conclusion Melina Marchetta’s young adult novel Looking for Alibrandi, and the New York Times bestseller A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J Maas are two narratives that show opposing sides to a similar inner journey. Enduring and coming out the other side of hurt and distress can impact your inner journey and helps a person come to term with who they are. Or you can end your misery and commit suicide. These texts show two very similar but very different struggles with emotional and physical trauma.