Verga's The She Wolf

Kendall Weinert

The She-Wolf

Along with Jacopo Ortis, Verga demonstrates the constant desire for something that cannot be obtained in the story, The She-Wolf. In this story, Pina is known as the town’s She-Wolf because “she never had enough—of anything” (Verga, 3.) Pina was constantly wishing for more than what was permitted. Pina falls in love with a handsome young man named Nanni. The problem here is that Nanni sought to be with the She-Wolf’s daughter, Maricchia. After confessing her love for Nanni, Nanni states “And I want your daughter, instead..” (Verga, 4.) The She-Wolf is devastated but marries her daughter off to him anyway. The conditions of this marriage are that Nanni and Maricchia get everything except for one corner in the kitchen, where Pina will stay.  Pina does this in order to make it easier to tempt Nanni and is able to force herself upon him. Verga demonstrates Pina’s constant desire of Nanni even though she knows that she cannot obtain this need for him. After Pina is still forcing herself upon Nanni, Nanni refers to Pina as the “temptation from hell” (Verga, 7.) Nanni threatens to kill Pina in order to keep her away. Verga illustrates Pina’s want for Nanni and Nanni’s desire to stay away from Pina. Along with Jacopo Ortis, the protagonist has a constant desire for someone that clearly cannot be obtained throughout the novel.