NEAPOLITAN NOVELS: ELENA FERRANTE’S SOUTHERN ITALYSPRING 2022 PROF. ROSARIA PARRETTI
2
• Book One discussion • Lecture
SAUL BASS INSPIRATION
TODAY01
BOOK ONE – OPEN DISCUSSION
LECTURE
Lila’s marriage: Stefano is violent and does business with the Solaras
Elena carries her studies on. She dates Antonio.
Antonio military service: Elena, with Lila’s help, asks Solaras’ intervention. For this reason, Antonio breaks up with Elena, and Stefano (Lila’s husband) beats Lila.
Lila is pregnant but she loses her baby.
Elena is a student. The party at Prof. Galiani’s. Elena goes with Lila. Nino Sarratore is there, he is engaged with Sonia, the Professor’s daughter. Lila’s reaction after the party.
The vacation at Ischia.
BOOK TWO (1)
Who the Solaras are?
What can you tell me about them?
THE SOLARS
Who the Solaras are?
Silvio Solara – father – owner of the “pasticceria” bar
Manuela Solara – mother – loan shark (the “red notebook”)
Marcello – elder son (briefly engaged with Lila)
Michele – younger son (violent)
What can you tell me about them?
THE SOLARS
THE CONTEXT
Camorra starts as a criminal organization in the prisons of Naples in 1800s. Then it evolves and expands in the city.
Racket, extortion: the main activity of Camorra. City markets. Violence.
Illegal bets. Bribes. Prostitution (“protection”).
Neighborhood: Sanità, Quartieri Spagnoli.
Members: tattoos
Territory control.
1900s emigration
Source: https://www.bibliocamorra.altervista.org/
GUAPPO, IN F. BOURCARD, USI E COSTUMI DI NAPOLI E CONTORNI DESCRITTI E DIPINTI, NAPLES 1853-1858 , ILLUSTRATION BY SAVERIO ALTAMURA
CAMORRATHE CRIMINAL UNDERWORLD
Tom Behan: reading (pdf in the folder)
CAMORRATHE CRIMINAL UNDERWORLD
PIAZZA DEL PLEBISCITO
One of Italy’s oldest game
MORRA GAME
Bartolomeo Pinelli, Morra game in Rome, 1781- 1835
MORRA GAME
Naples capital of Kingdom of Two Sicilies
Borbone
One of the European cities with largest number of inhabitants for more than 3 centuries
Masses of impoverished and unemployed people vs nobles and clericals
1789 French Revolution = 1799 Neapolitan Republic (failed). Lack of power followed.
Camorra emerged in this lack of power between 1799-1815 before Borbone restoration
PAOLO ALBERTIS, FERDINANDO I ENTRANCE IN NAPLES IN 1815, NAPLES PALAZZO REALE MUSEUM
REASONS BEHIND CAMORRA IN NAPLES
Guappo illustration, 1853-1858
Guapparia 1914
Lyrics: Libero Bovio; music: Rodolfo Falvo
A famous “guappo” has lost his honor of “malavita man” for the love of a woman (Margherita)
One of most famous Neapolitan Songs
Mario Merola
MARIO MEROLA, IN THE MOVIE “GUAPPARIA”, 1984
CAMORRASONGS
Guapparia, 1914
List of songs inspired by Camorra
Theatre drama with songs
Developed in 1920s-1940s
The story told in a famous song becomes a drama.
Audience identifies with main characters on stage, who represents principal feelings
Characters: • Isso (Him): the positive hero, family man • Essa (Her): object of desire, weak, surrendering to villain’s courtship • O’ Malamente (villain): the “guappo”, or a coward. Love, betrayal, honor, family links, sometimes criminal life. The end sees the fight between Isso and O’ Malamente. The positive hero wins.
Plot: after years in jail the hero comes home and discovers that his wife betrayed him with another (the villain). The hero fights for revenge, obtaining the community’s respect back.
Mario Merola traditional sceneggiata 1973:
MANETTI BROS, AMORE E MALAVITA, 2017
SCENEGGIATANEAPOLITAN MEOLODRAMA
Naples harbor
Black market
Cigarets contraband (cigaret sales were Italian State Monopoly: taxes on retail price)
Cigarettes contraband in 1970s: movies and documentaries
Other camorra’s business:
Imposition of retail prices on agricultural products
Constructions
YESTERDAY, TODAY, TOMORROW, 1963 MOVIE BY VITTORIO DE SICA
CAMORRA’S BUSINESS AFTER THE WAR
Raffaele Cutolo – O’ Professore: (The Professor: when he was first in jail, he was the only one who could read and write).
Most of the time in jail. He controlled everything from there.
Organized the scattered groups into one organizations with a pyramid structure with a vertex. Control over the whole territory of Naples and outside the city. Exchange of favors.
Over 2000 members
1979-1983 War against those who refused to join the new organization. Killings and violence in Naples.
1980 Earthquake in Naples: reconstruction funds controlled by Cutolo and his affiliates
1983: Cutolo and over 450 members are arrested, more 400 others are under arrest warrant. It’s the end of NCO.
He died in 2021
RAFFAELE CUTOLO
NUOVA CAMORRA ORGANIZZATA1970-1980
Don Rafaé – Fabrizio De André, 1991
FABRIZIO DE ANDRÉ
RAFFAELE CUTOLOSONGS AND MOVIES
www.fabriziodeandre.it
Le traduzioni di Mark Worden qui presenti sono la trasposizione letterale in lingua inglese dei testi delle canzoni contenute nell’album. È severamente vietata la riproduzione del testo in tutto o in parte.
These are literal English translations by Mark Worden of Fabrizio De André’s lyrics. All rights reserved. Copyright © 2009 Nuvole Production S.r.l.
DON RAFFAÉ F. De André | M. Pagani | F. De André | M. Bubola © 1990 Universal Music Publishing Ricordi S.r.l. | Macù Ed. Musicali S.a.s. | Nuvole Ed. Musicali S.a.s. My name is Pasquale Cafiero and I’m a brigadier in the prison, alas, my name is Cafiero Pasquale and I’ve been at Poggio Reale since ’53 and after the hundredth bolt in the evening I’m a wreck luckily in the special wing there’s a genial man who talks with me. All day long with four vile characters bandits, gluttons, cuckolds and lackeys all the hours with this scum who spit threats and take it out on me but at the end I sit down comfortably I undo my buttons and I read the paper I get advice from Don Raffae’ he explains what I think and we drink our coffee. Oh, what great coffee they know how make it well even in prison with the recipe that Ciccirinella, a cell mate, was given by his mum. Front page, twenty pieces of news twenty-one injustices, and what does the State do, it is dismayed, it is angry, it commits itself and then it throws in the towel with great dignity, I rack my brain and I mop my brow, luckily there’s someone who answers me to that very important person I ask approval from Don Raffae’. A man of honour who has six children asked for a house and they give him advice while the councillor, may God forgive him, inside the caravan raises mink for you a move or a voice is enough that to this Christ they take off the cross with all due respect, it’s now three o’clock would you like a juice or a coffee.
Oh, what great coffee they know how make it well even in prison with the recipe that Ciccirinella, a cell mate, was given by his mum. Oh, what great coffee they know how make it well even in prison with the recipe of Ciccirinella, a cell mate, it’s just like his mum’s. Here there’s inflation, devaluation and who has the wallet has it and I don’t have anything but this salary and two numbers if I dream about dad. Add my daughter Innocenza who wants a husband but she is impatient I won’t ask you for mercy I’ll shave you, or you can do it yourself. You have a camel-hair overcoat and at the mafia trial you were the most handsome in a brown pinstripe suit that’s what it looked like on television for the wedding, I beg you, Your Excellency, if you could lend it to me to make me look good, I’ve already got the shoes and the waistcoat would you like a Campari or a coffee. Oh, what great coffee they know how make it well even in prison with the recipe that Ciccirinella, a cell mate, was given by his mum. Oh, what great coffee they know how make it well even in prison with the recipe of Ciccirinella, a cell mate, it’s just like his mum’s. Here there’s no longer dignity, the luxury prisons
www.fabriziodeandre.it
Le traduzioni di Mark Worden qui presenti sono la trasposizione letterale in lingua inglese dei testi delle canzoni contenute nell’album. È severamente vietata la riproduzione del testo in tutto o in parte.
These are literal English translations by Mark Worden of Fabrizio De André’s lyrics. All rights reserved. Copyright © 2009 Nuvole Production S.r.l.
DON RAFFAÉ F. De André | M. Pagani | F. De André | M. Bubola © 1990 Universal Music Publishing Ricordi S.r.l. | Macù Ed. Musicali S.a.s. | Nuvole Ed. Musicali S.a.s. My name is Pasquale Cafiero and I’m a brigadier in the prison, alas, my name is Cafiero Pasquale and I’ve been at Poggio Reale since ’53 and after the hundredth bolt in the evening I’m a wreck luckily in the special wing there’s a genial man who talks with me. All day long with four vile characters bandits, gluttons, cuckolds and lackeys all the hours with this scum who spit threats and take it out on me but at the end I sit down comfortably I undo my buttons and I read the paper I get advice from Don Raffae’ he explains what I think and we drink our coffee. Oh, what great coffee they know how make it well even in prison with the recipe that Ciccirinella, a cell mate, was given by his mum. Front page, twenty pieces of news twenty-one injustices, and what does the State do, it is dismayed, it is angry, it commits itself and then it throws in the towel with great dignity, I rack my brain and I mop my brow, luckily there’s someone who answers me to that very important person I ask approval from Don Raffae’. A man of honour who has six children asked for a house and they give him advice while the councillor, may God forgive him, inside the caravan raises mink for you a move or a voice is enough that to this Christ they take off the cross with all due respect, it’s now three o’clock would you like a juice or a coffee.
Oh, what great coffee they know how make it well even in prison with the recipe that Ciccirinella, a cell mate, was given by his mum. Oh, what great coffee they know how make it well even in prison with the recipe of Ciccirinella, a cell mate, it’s just like his mum’s. Here there’s inflation, devaluation and who has the wallet has it and I don’t have anything but this salary and two numbers if I dream about dad. Add my daughter Innocenza who wants a husband but she is impatient I won’t ask you for mercy I’ll shave you, or you can do it yourself. You have a camel-hair overcoat and at the mafia trial you were the most handsome in a brown pinstripe suit that’s what it looked like on television for the wedding, I beg you, Your Excellency, if you could lend it to me to make me look good, I’ve already got the shoes and the waistcoat would you like a Campari or a coffee. Oh, what great coffee they know how make it well even in prison with the recipe that Ciccirinella, a cell mate, was given by his mum. Oh, what great coffee they know how make it well even in prison with the recipe of Ciccirinella, a cell mate, it’s just like his mum’s. Here there’s no longer dignity, the luxury prisons
www.fabriziodeandre.it
Le traduzioni di Mark Worden qui presenti sono la trasposizione letterale in lingua inglese dei testi delle canzoni contenute nell’album. È severamente vietata la riproduzione del testo in tutto o in parte.
These are literal English translations by Mark Worden of Fabrizio De André’s lyrics. All rights reserved. Copyright © 2009 Nuvole Production S.r.l.
DON RAFFAÉ F. De André | M. Pagani | F. De André | M. Bubola © 1990 Universal Music Publishing Ricordi S.r.l. | Macù Ed. Musicali S.a.s. | Nuvole Ed. Musicali S.a.s. My name is Pasquale Cafiero and I’m a brigadier in the prison, alas, my name is Cafiero Pasquale and I’ve been at Poggio Reale since ’53 and after the hundredth bolt in the evening I’m a wreck luckily in the special wing there’s a genial man who talks with me. All day long with four vile characters bandits, gluttons, cuckolds and lackeys all the hours with this scum who spit threats and take it out on me but at the end I sit down comfortably I undo my buttons and I read the paper I get advice from Don Raffae’ he explains what I think and we drink our coffee. Oh, what great coffee they know how make it well even in prison with the recipe that Ciccirinella, a cell mate, was given by his mum. Front page, twenty pieces of news twenty-one injustices, and what does the State do, it is dismayed, it is angry, it commits itself and then it throws in the towel with great dignity, I rack my brain and I mop my brow, luckily there’s someone who answers me to that very important person I ask approval from Don Raffae’. A man of honour who has six children asked for a house and they give him advice while the councillor, may God forgive him, inside the caravan raises mink for you a move or a voice is enough that to this Christ they take off the cross with all due respect, it’s now three o’clock would you like a juice or a coffee.
Oh, what great coffee they know how make it well even in prison with the recipe that Ciccirinella, a cell mate, was given by his mum. Oh, what great coffee they know how make it well even in prison with the recipe of Ciccirinella, a cell mate, it’s just like his mum’s. Here there’s inflation, devaluation and who has the wallet has it and I don’t have anything but this salary and two numbers if I dream about dad. Add my daughter Innocenza who wants a husband but she is impatient I won’t ask you for mercy I’ll shave you, or you can do it yourself. You have a camel-hair overcoat and at the mafia trial you were the most handsome in a brown pinstripe suit that’s what it looked like on television for the wedding, I beg you, Your Excellency, if you could lend it to me to make me look good, I’ve already got the shoes and the waistcoat would you like a Campari or a coffee. Oh, what great coffee they know how make it well even in prison with the recipe that Ciccirinella, a cell mate, was given by his mum. Oh, what great coffee they know how make it well even in prison with the recipe of Ciccirinella, a cell mate, it’s just like his mum’s. Here there’s no longer dignity, the luxury prisons
www.fabriziodeandre.it
Le traduzioni di Mark Worden qui presenti sono la trasposizione letterale in lingua inglese dei testi delle canzoni contenute nell’album. È severamente vietata la riproduzione del testo in tutto o in parte.
These are literal English translations by Mark Worden of Fabrizio De André’s lyrics. All rights reserved. Copyright © 2009 Nuvole Production S.r.l.
DON RAFFAÉ F. De André | M. Pagani | F. De André | M. Bubola © 1990 Universal Music Publishing Ricordi S.r.l. | Macù Ed. Musicali S.a.s. | Nuvole Ed. Musicali S.a.s. My name is Pasquale Cafiero and I’m a brigadier in the prison, alas, my name is Cafiero Pasquale and I’ve been at Poggio Reale since ’53 and after the hundredth bolt in the evening I’m a wreck luckily in the special wing there’s a genial man who talks with me. All day long with four vile characters bandits, gluttons, cuckolds and lackeys all the hours with this scum who spit threats and take it out on me but at the end I sit down comfortably I undo my buttons and I read the paper I get advice from Don Raffae’ he explains what I think and we drink our coffee. Oh, what great coffee they know how make it well even in prison with the recipe that Ciccirinella, a cell mate, was given by his mum. Front page, twenty pieces of news twenty-one injustices, and what does the State do, it is dismayed, it is angry, it commits itself and then it throws in the towel with great dignity, I rack my brain and I mop my brow, luckily there’s someone who answers me to that very important person I ask approval from Don Raffae’. A man of honour who has six children asked for a house and they give him advice while the councillor, may God forgive him, inside the caravan raises mink for you a move or a voice is enough that to this Christ they take off the cross with all due respect, it’s now three o’clock would you like a juice or a coffee.
Oh, what great coffee they know how make it well even in prison with the recipe that Ciccirinella, a cell mate, was given by his mum. Oh, what great coffee they know how make it well even in prison with the recipe of Ciccirinella, a cell mate, it’s just like his mum’s. Here there’s inflation, devaluation and who has the wallet has it and I don’t have anything but this salary and two numbers if I dream about dad. Add my daughter Innocenza who wants a husband but she is impatient I won’t ask you for mercy I’ll shave you, or you can do it yourself. You have a camel-hair overcoat and at the mafia trial you were the most handsome in a brown pinstripe suit that’s what it looked like on television for the wedding, I beg you, Your Excellency, if you could lend it to me to make me look good, I’ve already got the shoes and the waistcoat would you like a Campari or a coffee. Oh, what great coffee they know how make it well even in prison with the recipe that Ciccirinella, a cell mate, was given by his mum. Oh, what great coffee they know how make it well even in prison with the recipe of Ciccirinella, a cell mate, it’s just like his mum’s. Here there’s no longer dignity, the luxury prisons
www.fabriziodeandre.it
Le traduzioni di Mark Worden qui presenti sono la trasposizione letterale in lingua inglese dei testi delle canzoni contenute nell’album. È severamente vietata la riproduzione del testo in tutto o in parte.
These are literal English translations by Mark Worden of Fabrizio De André’s lyrics. All rights reserved. Copyright © 2009 Nuvole Production S.r.l.
DON RAFFAÉ F. De André | M. Pagani | F. De André | M. Bubola © 1990 Universal Music Publishing Ricordi S.r.l. | Macù Ed. Musicali S.a.s. | Nuvole Ed. Musicali S.a.s. My name is Pasquale Cafiero and I’m a brigadier in the prison, alas, my name is Cafiero Pasquale and I’ve been at Poggio Reale since ’53 and after the hundredth bolt in the evening I’m a wreck luckily in the special wing there’s a genial man who talks with me. All day long with four vile characters bandits, gluttons, cuckolds and lackeys all the hours with this scum who spit threats and take it out on me but at the end I sit down comfortably I undo my buttons and I read the paper I get advice from Don Raffae’ he explains what I think and we drink our coffee. Oh, what great coffee they know how make it well even in prison with the recipe that Ciccirinella, a cell mate, was given by his mum. Front page, twenty pieces of news twenty-one injustices, and what does the State do, it is dismayed, it is angry, it commits itself and then it throws in the towel with great dignity, I rack my brain and I mop my brow, luckily there’s someone who answers me to that very important person I ask approval from Don Raffae’. A man of honour who has six children asked for a house and they give him advice while the councillor, may God forgive him, inside the caravan raises mink for you a move or a voice is enough that to this Christ they take off the cross with all due respect, it’s now three o’clock would you like a juice or a coffee.
Oh, what great coffee they know how make it well even in prison with the recipe that Ciccirinella, a cell mate, was given by his mum. Oh, what great coffee they know how make it well even in prison with the recipe of Ciccirinella, a cell mate, it’s just like his mum’s. Here there’s inflation, devaluation and who has the wallet has it and I don’t have anything but this salary and two numbers if I dream about dad. Add my daughter Innocenza who wants a husband but she is impatient I won’t ask you for mercy I’ll shave you, or you can do it yourself. You have a camel-hair overcoat and at the mafia trial you were the most handsome in a brown pinstripe suit that’s what it looked like on television for the wedding, I beg you, Your Excellency, if you could lend it to me to make me look good, I’ve already got the shoes and the waistcoat would you like a Campari or a coffee. Oh, what great coffee they know how make it well even in prison with the recipe that Ciccirinella, a cell mate, was given by his mum. Oh, what great coffee they know how make it well even in prison with the recipe of Ciccirinella, a cell mate, it’s just like his mum’s. Here there’s no longer dignity, the luxury prisons
www.fabriziodeandre.it
Le traduzioni di Mark Worden qui presenti sono la trasposizione letterale in lingua inglese dei testi delle canzoni contenute nell’album. È severamente vietata la riproduzione del testo in tutto o in parte.
These are literal English translations by Mark Worden of Fabrizio De André’s lyrics. All rights reserved. Copyright © 2009 Nuvole Production S.r.l.
DON RAFFAÉ F. De André | M. Pagani | F. De André | M. Bubola © 1990 Universal Music Publishing Ricordi S.r.l. | Macù Ed. Musicali S.a.s. | Nuvole Ed. Musicali S.a.s. My name is Pasquale Cafiero and I’m a brigadier in the prison, alas, my name is Cafiero Pasquale and I’ve been at Poggio Reale since ’53 and after the hundredth bolt in the evening I’m a wreck luckily in the special wing there’s a genial man who talks with me. All day long with four vile characters bandits, gluttons, cuckolds and lackeys all the hours with this scum who spit threats and take it out on me but at the end I sit down comfortably I undo my buttons and I read the paper I get advice from Don Raffae’ he explains what I think and we drink our coffee. Oh, what great coffee they know how make it well even in prison with the recipe that Ciccirinella, a cell mate, was given by his mum. Front page, twenty pieces of news twenty-one injustices, and what does the State do, it is dismayed, it is angry, it commits itself and then it throws in the towel with great dignity, I rack my brain and I mop my brow, luckily there’s someone who answers me to that very important person I ask approval from Don Raffae’. A man of honour who has six children asked for a house and they give him advice while the councillor, may God forgive him, inside the caravan raises mink for you a move or a voice is enough that to this Christ they take off the cross with all due respect, it’s now three o’clock would you like a juice or a coffee.
Oh, what great coffee they know how make it well even in prison with the recipe that Ciccirinella, a cell mate, was given by his mum. Oh, what great coffee they know how make it well even in prison with the recipe of Ciccirinella, a cell mate, it’s just like his mum’s. Here there’s inflation, devaluation and who has the wallet has it and I don’t have anything but this salary and two numbers if I dream about dad. Add my daughter Innocenza who wants a husband but she is impatient I won’t ask you for mercy I’ll shave you, or you can do it yourself. You have a camel-hair overcoat and at the mafia trial you were the most handsome in a brown pinstripe suit that’s what it looked like on television for the wedding, I beg you, Your Excellency, if you could lend it to me to make me look good, I’ve already got the shoes and the waistcoat would you like a Campari or a coffee. Oh, what great coffee they know how make it well even in prison with the recipe that Ciccirinella, a cell mate, was given by his mum. Oh, what great coffee they know how make it well even in prison with the recipe of Ciccirinella, a cell mate, it’s just like his mum’s. Here there’s no longer dignity, the luxury prisons
Il camorrista (The Professor, 1986), directed by Giuseppe tornatore
BEN GAZZARA AS RAFFAELE CUTOLO IN THE MOVIERAFFAELE CUTOLO
RAFFAELE CUTOLOSONGS AND MOVIES
LITERARY TOPICS
LILA’S VOICE: THE NOTEBOOKLila’s honeymoon represents a turning point for both girls
Elena and Nino at the wedding party
Antonio and Elena after the wedding ceremony
Elena compares her situation to Lila’s and she pushes Antonio to have her first experience right away
Lila’s experience is something Elena cannot imagine…
Reading: pp. 015-018 (literary trick to know facts Lila does not participate in person)
Reading: pp. 31-33 + 034-042, The honeymoon
Whose voice is this?
THE BODY AND THE MINDTHE BODY
Lila's intervention to help Antonio to avoid military service
Solara’s role
Michele
Reading: pp. 073-077
(see S01e01 beginning)
THE BODY AND THE MINDTHE MIND
Elena studies at Lila’s apartment
Each one in her role: student and wife (or this is what Elena thinks)
Lila is the body, that’s why she got married. Elena is the mind, that’s why she studies.
But…
Reading: pp. 56-57
There is a clear separation between the two girls:
Body: wife, sex, mother > Lila
Mind: books, studying > Elena
Elena relationship with Antonio > sex out of marriage > body
Lila relationship with Elena study books > outside education channels > mind
The line between fiction and reality is very thin in Naples
All becomes drama
Fiction becomes reality
Reality is dramatized
The soap opera begins…
PHOTO STORY: SOAP OPERAS BEFORE TV, VERY POPULAR IN 1960S
THE SOAP OPERA
Lila and Nino
Lila’s first judgement on Nino
Reading: p. 61
Sudden Lila’s interest into books…
Reading: pp. 211-214
Lila and Nino
Reading: 220-239
SOAP OPERA