Arturo Bandini Character Analysis

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The Transformation of Arturo Bandini’s Character in Ask the Dust by John Fante
Outline
Thesis Statement: By the end of Ask the Dust by John Fante, it is clear that the Arturo Bandini who returns to Los Angeles is a changed man. He is more sociable, has accepted being outsider in Los Angeles, and he no longer holds strong beliefs about religion and God.
Introduction.
The novel Ask the Dust by John Fante narrates the story of Arturo Bandini, who unsuccessfully attempts to make a name for himself in Los Angeles as a writer.
Arturo’s experience in Los Angeles transforms his character significantly, by changing the way he views others, his social status, religion, and God’s place in human life.
Initially Arturo is boastful, more concerned about his career as a writer than his relationship with other human beings, and conscious of his outsider-status in a Whites dominated society
The Arturo we meet at the end of the novel is is a humbled person, skeptical about God and religion, and a more humane person who has reconciled his feelings of being an outsider
Arturo begins as a religious and God-fearing person, but later starts to question the relevance of God and religion.
At first Arturo goes to church and asks God to forgive him for becoming an atheist.
Later, when he commit adultery with Vera Rivken, Arturo refuses to repent, and does not feel guilty. He says that God and Christ are just myths.
Arturo changes into a more sociable and humane person after meeting Camilla Lopez. At first he sees himself as an outsider in Lose Angeles because of his low-class status.
When Arturo first meets Camilla, he calls her a “filthy little Greaser.” Later he learns to accept others even if they are of a lower social class than him.
At first Arturo is proud of being an American and concerned about people’s prejudice against him. He later realizes that he is an outsider li...