Last Letters of Jacopo Ortis

Last Letters of Jacopo Ortis, is a novel that is loosely based on the author Ugo Foscolos life. The novel is a collection of letters written by Jacopo Ortis at a rough time in his life. He is forced to leave his home of Venice, and resorts to living in the Padua countryside. Jacopo feels betrayed by both love and politics, he feels there is no happiness left for him in this world and as a result his spirits are extremely low. Jacopo states "This is how I consume my days, lamenting my own misfortunes and those of others."(Foscolo 20). His spirits are soon lifted when he meets with Signor T*** and family including his beautiful daughter Teresa, who has also "taken refuge in the country to escape the initial fury of the mob"(Foscolo 9). As Jacopo becomes closer with Signor T*** and his family, he starts to fall in love with Teresa. To his disadvantage Teresa is currently in an arranged engagement by her father to Oudardo. Teresa must marry Oudardo for his wealth and stability in order to help her own family. As the novel proceeds Teresa falls in love with Jacopo but distances herself from him because she knows that the love that they are both stuck in is unattainable. Jacopo is betrayed by both love and politics, he is forced from his homeland and forced away from his lover because of politics. He knows that there is no way he can be with Teresa because of societies expectations. He is so overcome with despair from the loss of his love he ends his life, wishing for Teresa's portrait to be buried alongside his body. Jacopo has been broken by a love that is unattainable.