Stella d’Oriente: prime prove di romanzo sociale
Duilio Caocci
2022-01-01
Abstract
The essay focuses on Stella d'Oriente, Grazia Deledda's second novel, which deals with the themes of social and family identity, highlighting the dynamics between aristocracy, bourgeoisie and popular classes in post-unification Italy. At the heart of the plot is the tension between biological origin and social rise, highlighted by the positivist theories of the time, which linked the behaviour of characters to their class of birth. The ‘voice of blood’ represents this inescapable call to origins, in contrast to the social conditions in which the characters find themselves. Maurizio, the son of the Marquis of the Orient, and Stella, an orphan adopted by the aristocratic family, represent these contrasting forces. Despite their differences in class and growth, the two characters feel a mutual attraction, symbolising biological drives that transcend social conventions. However, the discovery that they are brothers marks a breaking point and deals with themes such as incest and the conflict between blood and society. The novel also deals with the social rise of Stella, who, as a humble orphan, becomes integrated into the world of nobility, while retaining traits of her origin. The plot, full of innuendo and revelations, culminates in a happy ending that resolves the personal and social tensions of the protagonists, offering a reflection on class barriers and the irreducibility of biological origins.Items in DSpace are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.