The inability to take responsibility for immoral actions causes destruction. Nino Ricci’s Lives of the Saints tells the story of a young boy whose life drastically changes due to his mother’s infidelity. Throughout the novel, Cristina’s attitude toward her sin becomes a prevalent matter as it starts to damage aspects of her and her family’s life. Cristina’s excessive pride and arrogance lead to her choice to stay silent and proud, which results in its destructive nature. Through Cristina’s immorality and arrogance, Vittorio’s innocence becomes fragile. He begins to grow more maturely through the challenges he faces. A critical review from A Circle of Clarity states, “It is impossible, therefore, to protect Vitto from the encircling consequences …show more content…
Cristina’s father is the unofficial mayor of Valle De Sole. Although it’s a town full of hypocrisy and traditionalistic standards, the Innocentes, who reject or pretend to believe in the accustomed values, are presented as a family with a higher reputation. As the novel progresses, the impact Cristina’s immorality has, escalates rapidly. Vittorio’s grandfather directs his anger of his shattered reputation on Cristina: “I wish that you died and rotted in the womb, that you haven’t lived long enough to bring this disgrace on my name,” (Ricci 149). Cristina continuously shows no shame in her infidelity, which brings humiliation onto her family’s name. In another scene, as Cristina, her father and Vittorio head to church, Vittorio realizes the quietness that happens around them: “But as they came up behind us, overtaking us because of my grandfather’s slow pace, their voices went suddenly quiet,” (Ricci 143). Cristina’s arrogance leads to the destruction of their family’s notoriety. They were once highly respected, but as word of Cristina’s affair escalates, people become intertwined with the gossip and take this opportunity to engage themselves into oppressing Cristina and her family. Critic Stephen Amidon points out, “They set about ostracizing the fiery Cristina Innocente, yet she resolutely refuses to apologize for her condition, further angering the locals.” Cristina’s arrogance angers the townspeople. As a result, they begin to not only ostracise Cristina, but also her father. Their reputation slowly deteriorates as people start to lose the respect they had for Cristina’s father because of her actions and her
Through their superstitious beliefs, devout religious convictions, and established customs the severity of the collective conventionality of the inhabitants of Valle del Sole in Nino Ricci’s Lives of the Saints is evident and crucial to the ruination of Cristina Innocente. The people of the town have proven themselves to be incredibly superstitious, irrationally believing in things such as the “evil eye” to prove ________________. In addition to their superstitions, their exceedingly pious beliefs further their condemnation of Cristina, casting her out in the eyes of God. The citizens of Valle del Sole also denounce Cristina for her lack of regard to the very specific roles and responsibilities within their
One must take careful consideration before acting because the aftermath can lead to a chain of events whose consequences can be disastrous. Nino Ricci’s Lives of the Saints is an excellent example of how the consequences of a persons actions can affect everyone around them, including themselves. First, Cristina makes several choices throughout the novel that not only reflect her thoughtlessness, but her inability to see that it affects people beyond herself. The repercussions of Cristina’s actions demonstrates that she does not take notice that her actions are affecting others. Cristina’s value system is distorted as she is not looking at what is best for her child but rather what is feeling good to her right now. Cristina Innocente is a selfish,
Coming from a devout Catholic family, Gary Soto encountered the ultimate sin as a six-year-old when he was tempted by a delicious apple pie. But his guilt is expressed in more than just a frown; through his tremendous writing, Soto practically transforms his guilt into its own being. His attention to detail in each description demonstrates his ability to carry the reader through his writing, from the imagery behind his guilt sweat to the repetition of hearing the plumbing “howl”. In some ways, the readers themselves begin to feel guilty right alongside Soto. Written from the perspective of Soto’s childhood self, the story vividly details the sickening guilt that follows him after he steals an apple pie.
Sebastian, the twin brother of Viola who was lost at sea after a shipwreck, and Lady Olivia are the first to marry, but things are not as they seem. During the weeks leading up to matrimony, Olivia fell madly in love with Cesario, who though looks and sounds just as Sebastian, is truly Viola dressed as a man. Sebastian does not realize this as he meets Olivia for the first time. He is amazed that a woman of her statue and beaut...
Throughout the story Cristina’s is very specific about her superstations and how she goes about things. Like how she wouldn’t eat strawberry’s in the summer or how there were certain street’s she couldn’t cross. So at this point the reader would assume the husband knew what he was up against. “When we got engaged we had to look for a brand-new apartment because, according to her, the fate of the previous occupants would influence her life.” The reader can clearly see that Cristiana’s had clear instructions on where she wanted to live, but the husband refuses to listen. “I had to make Cristina believe no one had lived in the house and that it was the ideal place, the house of our dreams.” Even knowing what Cristina’s wishes where when it came to where they would spend the rest of their lives, the husband went ahead and decided to lie to her. Right then and there was when all trust was
...l concept, many consequences can arise as a result of it. Their display of self-destructive and reckless behavior endorses the idea that young lovers are not yet mature enough to handle the ramifications that appear as a result of a complicated relationship. Their willingness to rush into major events, such as marriage and even death, further shows how passion can cloud one’s judgement and control one’s thoughts and actions. Though written a long time ago, the message that Shakespeare conveys in Romeo and Juliet about young, passionate love applies to modern society as well, where great consequences arise from people acting on emotional impulse as opposed to calm reasoning.
In the time of William Shakespeare where courtship and romance were often overshadowed by the need to marry for social betterment and to ensure inheritance, emerges a couple from Much Ado About Nothing, Hero and Claudio, who must not only grow as a couple, who faces deception and slander, but as individuals. Out of the couple, Claudio, a brave soldier respected by some of the highest ranked men during his time, Prince Don Pedro and the Governor of Messina, Leonato, has the most growing to do. Throughout the play, Claudio’s transformation from an immature, love-struck boy who believes gossip and allows himself to easily be manipulated is seen when he blossoms into a mature young man who admits to his mistakes and actually has the capacity to love the girl he has longed for.
Michele's compassion is his most prominent characteristic that makes him appealing to the reader. Throughout the novel, he exhibits empathy well beyond his years, often making readers forget that he is just nine. This can be seen clearly in three main instances. First, when he goes after his sister when she has fallen over (pg. 4) despite his own fears. Secondly, offering to complete the forfeit in place of Barbra when Skull forces her to complete an embarrassing forfeit. Finally, and most evidently, when he takes care of Filippo. This makes for a positive contrast with the rest of Acqua Traverse who seem to lack any compassion. When describing places and characters he reveals his unique way of viewing things that demonstrates his childlike imagination and innocence. He often combines reality and fantasy, such as when describing the Wicked Witch' (pg. 89) to Maria.
The story of “Killings” by Andre Dubus looked into the themes of crime, revenge and morality. The crime committed in the story depicted the father’s love for his son and the desire to avenge his son’s death. However, his own crime led to his own destruction as he was faced with questions of morality. The character found himself in a difficult position after taking his revenge. He failed to anticipate the guilt associated with the crime he committed. Feelings of anger and righteousness are illustrated by the character throughout the story.
In Kleist’s novella The Marquise of O, the narrative depicts the account of the Marquise of O’s, a young Italian window and a “lady of unblemished reputation”(Kleist 68), sudden impregnation and her subsequent attempts to solve the question of the paternity of her child. Through the contrasting interactions between the characters from the Marquise’s estrangement with her family to her eventual reconciliation, Kleist utilizes the search for her unborn child’s father to provide a social commentary on how tensions of uncertainty complicate the search for truth and identity within established gender relationships and traditional social constructs.
Scene 1. At her wedding Hero, is publicly accused of being a cheater by he fiancé Claudio. After being denounced by Claudio Hero faints, while she is on the ground her father Leonato says: “Do not live, Hero, do not ope thine eyes, For, did I think thou wouldst not quickly die, Thought I thy spirits were stronger than thy shames, Myself would, on the rearward of reproaches, Strike at thy life”(4.1.131-135). Leonato is hoping that his daughter Hero is dead, and if she is not, he will risk the punishment and kill her himself. Although he has no evidenced of Hero’s crimes, and Hero tells him she is innocent Leonato choses to believe Claudio over Hero. He is so angry at what his daughter has allegedly done he is prepared to kill her. It is seen here that in this time period men are much more trusted then women. This scene also shows how serious it was for a woman to have premarital sex. Leonato had no trouble believing his daughter was unfaithful with no evidence, and was ready to kill her because she had sex out of wedlock and dishonored his
Claudio is arrested because there is a law against fornication in Vienna and Angelo, who is in charge of the city, wants to purge the city of sexual offences with the aid of “strict statutes and most biting laws” (I.III.789) . Claudio confesses his guilt, although he stresses that "upon a true contract / I got possession of Julietta's bed .” When asked by his friend Lucio why he is being taken to prison, i.e. “whence comes this restraint?” (I.ii.116), he answers “From too much liberty, my Lucio, liberty” (I.ii.117).
In the play, Claudio has been sentenced to death for getting his fiancee pregnant (his crime was not so much getting her pregnant, but having sex with her at all). Claudio's sister, Isabella, who is in the process of joining a nunnery, feels that Claudio has done wrong, has sinned and committed a crime, but she feels that the sentence--death--is too strict. So, she goes to the ruler of the city, Angelo, to plead for her brother's life. The previously virtuous Angelo falls into lust with Isabella, and he propositions her to save her brother by having sex with him (Angelo). Now, remember that Isabella is in the process of becoming a nun. She, of course, rejects this propos...
The sincerity of Claudio's love is thrown into question by the fact that his 'soft and delicate desires,/ All prompting him how fair young Hero is, are not confessed until he has ascertained that she will bring her husband a fortune.
Vitto will no longer have a normal life. He has no mother or father. He has no money, and he has nowhere to live. Consequently, he has a newborn child to look after. Where has his childhood gone? It looks as though the doctor has taken it from him, and he will never get it back. One thing remains certain… Vittorio Innocente will never look through the eyes of a child again.