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Michele
Michele and Maria’s father is a stern man who is willing to do whatever it takes to provide for his children. He is usually away from Acqua Traverse for work, but he starts spending a lot more time in the town when he gets involved in the plot to kidnap Filippo and collect ransom money. Although Michele’s father loves Michele, his son often irritates him because he feels like Michele is always getting into trouble. Because Michele’s father is stressed due to the kidnapping plot, he often takes his anger out on Michele. In the final pages of the novel, he accidentally shoots Michele because he thinks Michele is Filippo.
Michele’s Father Quotes in I’m Not Scared
The I’m Not Scared quotes below are all either spoken by Michele’s Father or refer to Michele’s Father. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
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Chapter 3 Quotes
Maybe the boy in the hole was my brother, and he had been born mad like Nunzio and papa had hidden him there, so as not to frighten my sister and me. Not to frighten the children of Acqua Traverse.
Maybe he and I were twins. We were the same height and we seemed to be the same age.
When we were born, mama had taken both of us from the cradle, she had sat on a chair and put her breasts in our mouths to give us milk. I had started to suck but he had bitten her nipple, tried to tear it off, the blood and milk was dripping from her tit and mama shouted round the house: ‘He’s crazy! He’s crazy! Pino, take him away! Take him away! Kill him, he’s crazy.’
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Chapter 4 Quotes
But the old man shut him up. ‘What fucking things? You’d better shut up, because you’re worse than the others. And you know why? Because you don’t realize it. You’re incompetent. All calm, sure of yourself, and you’ve fucked up one thing after another. You’re an imbecile.’
Papa tried to answer, then he swallowed and lowered his gaze.
He had called him an imbecile.
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A lady appeared. [...] She was sitting in a big leather armchair in a room full of books. [...] ‘I’m Filippo Carducci’s mother. I’m appealing to my son’s kidnappers. Please don’t hurt him. He’s a good boy, polite and very shy. Please treat him well. I’m sure you know what love and understanding are. Even if you haven’t got any children I’m sure you can imagine what it means when they’re taken away from you. The ransom you’ve asked for is very high, but my husband and I are prepared to give you everything we own to have Filippo back with us. You’ve threatened to cut off one of his ears. I beg you, I implore you not to do it...’ [...] ‘We’re doing all we can. Please. God will reward you if you are merciful. Tell Filippo that his mama and papa haven’t forgotten him and that they love him.’
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Chapter 5 Quotes
The old man rinsed the razor in the water. ‘Don’t you know you’re supposed to knock before going into the bathroom? Didn’t your parents teach you that?’
‘I’m sorry.’ I wanted to leave but I stood rooted to the spot. Like when you see a cripple and you try not to look at him but you can’t help it.
He started shaving his neck. ‘Are you Pino’s son?’
‘Yes.’
He scrutinized me in the mirror. ‘Are you a quiet child?’
‘Yes.’
‘I like quiet children. Good boy. You don’t take after your father, then.
And are you obedient?’
‘Yes.’
‘Then go out and shut the door.’
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Chapter 9 Quotes
‘Stop all this talk about monsters, Michele. Monsters don’t exist. It’s men you should be afraid of, not monsters.’
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Chapter 10 Quotes
I opened my eyes again.
Papa was crying. He was stroking me. His hands red. A dark figure approached. Papa looked at him.
Papa, you must run for it.
In the roar papa said: ‘I didn’t recognize him. Help me, please, he’s my son. He’s wounded. I didn’t...’ Now it was dark again.
And there was papa.
And there was me.
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Michele’s Father Character Timeline in I’m Not Scared
The timeline below shows where the character Michele’s Father appears in I’m Not Scared. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 1
...Traverse is a blue road sign displaying its name. When Michele gets home, he sees Michele’s father ’s truck parked outside. Michele’s father is a trucker, and the parked truck signals his...
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Inside, Michele’s father sits at the table, drinking wine and smoking while Maria perches on his knee. His...
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Chapter 2
When Michele finally makes it home, he rushes inside, eager to tell his father about the boy. But his father, sitting with a stern expression, is furious that Michele...
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After some time, Maria finds Michele and insists he come home for supper, mentioning that their father has gone out and won’t be back until late. Hungry and still shaken, Michele agrees...
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Chapter 3
...he rushes out of his room in just his underwear. In the kitchen, Michele finds his father with Barbara’s father, Pietro Mura. To Michele’s relief, his father is no longer angry with...
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Michele returns home in time for lunch. During lunch, his father mentions that a man named Sergio will be coming to stay with them soon. Michele...
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...are coming from Italo Natale’s kennels. Italo is Skull’s father. Michele begins fantasizing about where his father went. He imagines that his father might be taking food to the boy in the...
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Chapter 4
...the hill. The boy’s strange behavior convinces him that he isn’t his brother and that Michele’s father has no connection to this mystery. On his way home, Michele realizes he forgot to...
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...up needing to use the bathroom and overhears an intense argument coming from the kitchen. His father has returned home and is talking with several men, including Felice and Sergio Materia, who...
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...for her son’s safe return and offering a ransom. The men in the kitchen, including Michele’s father , respond with crude remarks, showing no sympathy. Michele realizes that his father and the...
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Chapter 5
...to find Michele’s mother, who’s busy changing Maria’s bed sheets. She explains that Sergio is Michele’s father ’s friend and that he will be sleeping in Maria’s bed. This means Maria will...
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...she refuses. When Michele complains further, his mother tells him to take it up with Michele’s father . In response, Michele says that he thinks his father wants to get rid of...
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When Michele arrives at home, Michele’s father asks to speak with him in private. Then, Michele’s father questions Michele about why he...
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Chapter 6
...bit more playful teasing, Michele’s mother goes to warm some milk for Michele, mentioning that Michele’s father and Sergio have gone out. She shares that next week, Michele’s father has promised to...
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Back at Acqua Traverse, Michele sees Michele’s father ’s truck and Sergio’s car are gone. When Felice forces him out of his car,...
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Soon after, Michele’s father and Sergio arrive, breaking up the fight. Michele’s father pulls Felice off Michele’s mother, and...
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Later, Michele’s father wakes Michele up and questions him about his interactions with Filippo. In particular, Michele’s father...
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Chapter 7
...he is worried that the adults will kill Filippo if he does. Outside, Michele hears Michele’s father calling for him, claiming he has a gift. Michele is excited because he thinks his...
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Chapter 8
...Traverse is eerily quiet, as if it’s under a spell. The adults stay inside, and Michele’s father speaks only to Sergio. Michele often rides his new red bike alone. He ventures far...
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Chapter 9
...abandoned house near Melichetti’s farm arises, Michele becomes uneasy, recalling the oath he made to Michele’s father not to return there. Despite his reservations, Michele reluctantly agrees to go with the group,...
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Chapter 10
Michele’s father struggles to hold back Felice, who screams that he won’t be called a coward. Sergio,...
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...him up toward the entrance. As they struggle, Michele hears the sound of approaching voices. Michele’s father and the others have arrived. Panicking, Michele begs Filippo to climb out and escape, but...
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Michele hears Michele’s father ’s voice and sees him appear at the cave entrance with a flashlight and a...
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