Some folktale allusions today--Griso described as a “famished wolf” in search of Lucia. While country peasant Renzo reminds me of foolish Juan Bobo, a popular folktale character from Puerto Rico. Also, narrator enjoins us to play his game of keeping track of all the characters, like a “herd of guinea pigs, which he allows to run free in the yard all day.” What fun! 😅
"I have often observed him...attempting to round up his heard of guinea pigs...One heads right, and while the little shepherd runs to corral him back, one, two, or three others escape to the left in every direction." The best metaphor for writing a novel that I have ever read!
I’m Enjoying today’s reading maybe due to its simplicity (in language and in action). Will be thinking about Renzo’s emerging on to this Milanese scene, and would like to do more research into the word citizen, which I hadn’t realized until now, has the word “city” in it. Perhaps Raymond Williams will have something to say about it.
Reading last nights pages was akin to watching a train wreck in slow motion. I kept shouting at my kindle screen "No, Renzo, no! NO! NOOOOOO!" But Manzoni knows there is no pleasure without pain...did someone famous say that????
Well, how could one be so thoroughly screwed over by the elite and not want to explore some revenge (even if over different elites)? So hard to remain pure when in pain (although that probably applies to all the characters).
Also, what if at the end Renzo and Griso join forces against Don Rodrigo and end up with his wealth and status? Hmm…
Don Rodrigo asserts that Griso is a “straw dog … afraid to wander too far from the door”. Griso cowers to his master and unconvincingly asserts that he is “Brave as a lion, swift as a hare, and … ready to go”. Griso’s equivocation (“If you could send someone else”) should not encourage confidence that he will be able to fulfill his mission.
I was lucky enough to get to visit Milan's Duomo in 2019, and, oh ... what a sight. I enjoyed being able to project myself into Renzo's skin in that passage.
Some folktale allusions today--Griso described as a “famished wolf” in search of Lucia. While country peasant Renzo reminds me of foolish Juan Bobo, a popular folktale character from Puerto Rico. Also, narrator enjoins us to play his game of keeping track of all the characters, like a “herd of guinea pigs, which he allows to run free in the yard all day.” What fun! 😅
"I have often observed him...attempting to round up his heard of guinea pigs...One heads right, and while the little shepherd runs to corral him back, one, two, or three others escape to the left in every direction." The best metaphor for writing a novel that I have ever read!
I’m Enjoying today’s reading maybe due to its simplicity (in language and in action). Will be thinking about Renzo’s emerging on to this Milanese scene, and would like to do more research into the word citizen, which I hadn’t realized until now, has the word “city” in it. Perhaps Raymond Williams will have something to say about it.
"To be truly radical is to make hope possible rather than despair convincing." - RW
Reading last nights pages was akin to watching a train wreck in slow motion. I kept shouting at my kindle screen "No, Renzo, no! NO! NOOOOOO!" But Manzoni knows there is no pleasure without pain...did someone famous say that????
I'm just appreciating the double cliffhanger...
Well, how could one be so thoroughly screwed over by the elite and not want to explore some revenge (even if over different elites)? So hard to remain pure when in pain (although that probably applies to all the characters).
Also, what if at the end Renzo and Griso join forces against Don Rodrigo and end up with his wealth and status? Hmm…
Hmm...I don’t think Renzo has the cunning of Griso. But who knows 🤷🏼♀️ where this tale will lead 😃
The "famished wolf" simile reminds me of the Iliad.
Don Rodrigo asserts that Griso is a “straw dog … afraid to wander too far from the door”. Griso cowers to his master and unconvincingly asserts that he is “Brave as a lion, swift as a hare, and … ready to go”. Griso’s equivocation (“If you could send someone else”) should not encourage confidence that he will be able to fulfill his mission.
I was lucky enough to get to visit Milan's Duomo in 2019, and, oh ... what a sight. I enjoyed being able to project myself into Renzo's skin in that passage.
A little behind but was so struck by this sentence:
“He had so little to celebrate in the ordinary run of things that he was inclined to approve of anything that might change things in any way.”
Wow!