Jealousy and Temptation within Verga

The story of The She-Wolf by Verga is written based on jealousy and temptation. Pina, known as the “she- wolf” for her voluptuous looks and behavior, is in love with Nanni who wants the Pina’s daughter Maricchia. Pina is jealous of her daughter, yet still wishes that her daughter marries Nanni. The one condition Pina has is that she gets “a little corner in the kitchen, enough for a straw mattress.”(5) Pina does this to tempt Nanni into craving her, even though he is with her daughter. The actions of Pina cause jealous reactions from Maricchia, she “cried day and night, and glared at her mother, her eyes burning with tears and jealousy.”(7) The temptation of Pina is too much for Nanni to handle, when confronted by the sergeant he says “it’s the temptation of hell!”(7).  The temptation of Pina, is as to the temptation of the devil. Nanni is not able to run away, the temptation is always there. As the temptation overcomes Nanni he murders the she-wolf, in hope of ending the horrible temptation.