Manzoni shows how in the maelstrom of famine, plague and war everything becomes completely confused. Non-sense, common sense and good sense become conflated and meaning lost. The savagery and rapine of war during this period is well brought out in Ermanno Olmi's film "Il Mestiere delle armi". It's set about one hundred years prior to the events of the novel, but it graphically depicts the German landsknechts sent by the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V to march on Rome. More importantly, it shows the absolute stupidity of war.
I felt echoes of other historical novels here, Les Miserables, Grapes of Wrath, even Moby Dick and how it toggles between story and whale facts. And it is so true that as much as things change, they are the same. No time.of scarcity that public money can't be abused.
Failed policy initiatives, and unintended consequences of governmental intervention led to, contributed to and/or exacerbated food shortages resultant famine and plague, and to mass deaths; followed by foreign invasions and plundering, rape and other wanton and senseless violence and destruction; and all roads lead to Lecco.
"that the army had been set into motion by questions of interests and glory which outweighed the danger that it posed; all things considered, they should take the best precautions they could, and place their trust in Providence." Providence, it seems, did not come through for the villages who lost their homes and lives at the hands of the army. I wonder if Lucia and Renzo will fare better?
The dressing down of Don Abbondio reminds me of Uvalde tragedy--no one wants to run into gun fire. But somehow most police officers are trained and expected to do so, especially to save children.
The vow--Someone commented earlier that Lucia’s vow to marry Renzo my preempt the later vow. Isn’t the name of the book in Italian I Promessi Sposi? Perhaps jam-packed meaning?
both her vows would be vows to marry I think -- one a vow to marry Renzo, the second a vow to become a nun, marry Christ? -- maybe her second vow doesn't go so far, but I felt it by implication as a vow to enter a convent as a postulant -- in other words, or in any case, that she betrothed herself to lifelong chastity
I appreciate the history and meaning of the Lazarretto. Had no idea about that ironically named Venetian island. So much misery herded into one increasingly contaminated zone. Ten soldi for each soul the police delivered. Reading this morning about 37 migrants dead in a Mexican containment area.
Wondering if by 1628 there was a Jewish ghetto in Milan.
"...the poor's distrust of anything proposed by the rich and powerful (...always proportionate to the mutual ignorance between those who feel it and those who inspire it, to the number of the poor, and the inanity of the laws")...
"For each person brought in, the police received a bounty of ten soldi, which goes to show how, even in times of great scarcity, there is always room forvthe misuse of public money."
"But destiny decrees that the opinions of poets shall not be heeded..."
In addition to all these still so timely observations, and the deepening portrayal of mass devastation, this chapter seems, like War and Peace, to demonstrate a history bigger and vaster than the little humans who think they lead it -- all the combined forces and realities that are "history" making "the man," not the leader/man making history.
Maybe history does repeat itself. Reading this, I'm thinking, the Cultural Revolution, the Great Leap Forward, Stalin's Red Famine in Ukraine.
In Italy you hear Italians say that Italy is a "young nation." This is strikingly ironic given that many regard Ancient Rome as the mother of European culture. In this chapter we see that Italy was prevented from uniting as a nation as other kingdoms and nations repeatedly tried to dismember it for their own gains.
It was hard to read these passages about mass death, pillaging, beatings and torture, rape … which unfortunately are not artifacts of the past but the way just about every (every?) war seems to unfold.
In the midst of it all, Don Gonzalo makes an ignominious departure, with trumpeters, no less, who later argue they were simply acting in their professional capacity. And so the man who wanted to make his mark on history rides through his ravaged city in a bewildered and heralded state. Manzoni is wonderful at capturing history's moments of bitter irony.
Manzoni shows how in the maelstrom of famine, plague and war everything becomes completely confused. Non-sense, common sense and good sense become conflated and meaning lost. The savagery and rapine of war during this period is well brought out in Ermanno Olmi's film "Il Mestiere delle armi". It's set about one hundred years prior to the events of the novel, but it graphically depicts the German landsknechts sent by the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V to march on Rome. More importantly, it shows the absolute stupidity of war.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7FoIhPCLxxE
I felt echoes of other historical novels here, Les Miserables, Grapes of Wrath, even Moby Dick and how it toggles between story and whale facts. And it is so true that as much as things change, they are the same. No time.of scarcity that public money can't be abused.
Definite echoes! The pillaging by the soldiers reminded me of War and Peace.
Failed policy initiatives, and unintended consequences of governmental intervention led to, contributed to and/or exacerbated food shortages resultant famine and plague, and to mass deaths; followed by foreign invasions and plundering, rape and other wanton and senseless violence and destruction; and all roads lead to Lecco.
Love this final thought, "all roads lead to Lecco"!
"that the army had been set into motion by questions of interests and glory which outweighed the danger that it posed; all things considered, they should take the best precautions they could, and place their trust in Providence." Providence, it seems, did not come through for the villages who lost their homes and lives at the hands of the army. I wonder if Lucia and Renzo will fare better?
I’ve been catching up --a few thoughts:
The dressing down of Don Abbondio reminds me of Uvalde tragedy--no one wants to run into gun fire. But somehow most police officers are trained and expected to do so, especially to save children.
The vow--Someone commented earlier that Lucia’s vow to marry Renzo my preempt the later vow. Isn’t the name of the book in Italian I Promessi Sposi? Perhaps jam-packed meaning?
both her vows would be vows to marry I think -- one a vow to marry Renzo, the second a vow to become a nun, marry Christ? -- maybe her second vow doesn't go so far, but I felt it by implication as a vow to enter a convent as a postulant -- in other words, or in any case, that she betrothed herself to lifelong chastity
Oh, nice!
Wonderful observations, Janice!
I appreciate the history and meaning of the Lazarretto. Had no idea about that ironically named Venetian island. So much misery herded into one increasingly contaminated zone. Ten soldi for each soul the police delivered. Reading this morning about 37 migrants dead in a Mexican containment area.
Wondering if by 1628 there was a Jewish ghetto in Milan.
"...the poor's distrust of anything proposed by the rich and powerful (...always proportionate to the mutual ignorance between those who feel it and those who inspire it, to the number of the poor, and the inanity of the laws")...
"For each person brought in, the police received a bounty of ten soldi, which goes to show how, even in times of great scarcity, there is always room forvthe misuse of public money."
"But destiny decrees that the opinions of poets shall not be heeded..."
In addition to all these still so timely observations, and the deepening portrayal of mass devastation, this chapter seems, like War and Peace, to demonstrate a history bigger and vaster than the little humans who think they lead it -- all the combined forces and realities that are "history" making "the man," not the leader/man making history.
I found some pictures of what’s left of the Lazaretto http://himetop.wikidot.com/the-lazzaretto
Thank you for this, Sadie! (I like that it was torn down for “urbanistical” reasons.)
Maybe history does repeat itself. Reading this, I'm thinking, the Cultural Revolution, the Great Leap Forward, Stalin's Red Famine in Ukraine.
In Italy you hear Italians say that Italy is a "young nation." This is strikingly ironic given that many regard Ancient Rome as the mother of European culture. In this chapter we see that Italy was prevented from uniting as a nation as other kingdoms and nations repeatedly tried to dismember it for their own gains.
It was hard to read these passages about mass death, pillaging, beatings and torture, rape … which unfortunately are not artifacts of the past but the way just about every (every?) war seems to unfold.
In the midst of it all, Don Gonzalo makes an ignominious departure, with trumpeters, no less, who later argue they were simply acting in their professional capacity. And so the man who wanted to make his mark on history rides through his ravaged city in a bewildered and heralded state. Manzoni is wonderful at capturing history's moments of bitter irony.