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