“Let me talk about these March
turbulences, impossible to describe exactly and nearly always associated with a
subtle sensual pleasure, a thirst for beauty” (34). This paragraph has a
massive impact. For the first time, Tozzi associates himself with the story.
The sudden switch from third person where Tozzi had began to develop a setting
and plot to first person develops an internal conflict that continues on
through the rest of the novel. Tozzi recognizes himself as Pietro in this paragraph
in describing the effects of Poggio a’ Meli on his character. The reason this
interjection of the story’s flow has such a great impact is it stands as the
catalyst to a deeper reflection and a more internalized and complex
understanding of Pietro’s (Tozzi’s) psyche.
Poggio a’ Meli and it’s
functionality from his abusive father to the laborers ignites in Pietro a
journey in search of who he is and what he desires. “Yes, she knows. The others
know all about me. I’m the one who doesn’t” (45). The estate beckons Pietro
because he realizes the answer to who he is can be found from his experiences
there. Even in the painful experiences he has there, Pietro can’t break away
from the farm and what it represents. His adolescence is stained by his
loneliness as his father doesn’t care much about him and his mother’s
convulsions continue to worsen, obstructing her ability to care and watch over
him. This freedom Pietro finds in his isolation binds him. Without guidance or
someone to care for him, Pietro’s immaturity pushes him towards poor decisions
and tumultuous situations that add to his blindness of who he is and what he
desires.
I was interested in the semi-autobiographical aspects of "Eyes Shut" as well. I didn't think to analyze it in terms of shifts in point of view however. As far as I know, this is the only point in the novel that Tozzi uses first person so I agree: I think it is safe to assume that Tozzi is putting himself into the story at this point. It's interesting to think about how Tozzi models the conventions of fiction. In some of the secondary sources that I've looked at, critics consider him an inventor of the modern Italian novel. I'm not sure how much of this has to do with his use of autobiographical information. After having read Aleramo, it would seem that semi-autobiographies are somewhat typical of some of the major Italian novelists. "A Woman" doesn't seem to have the same complexity as far as point of view goes, however. With that being said, maybe it would be helpful to consider point of view in Tozzi in the light of his form of realism, which seems to be rooted strongly in an obsession with perception and impression.
ReplyDeleteTozzi's shift in perspective is very interesting and I think that he reminds the reader that he is the author by straying from the traditional third person. He utilizes italics to tell the reader a character's insight. This is especially helpful when he narrates Pietro's thoughts since Pietro has trouble communicating. "When Ghisola pricked him Pietro thought; She knows what I want all right. But I'd have to tell her. It's necessary" (45). These unfrequent interjections allow the reader to further understand the characters. I also think it helps Tozzi remind the readers that he is controlling what we know and what we don't know. As AJ discussed, Pietro isolated, so Tozzi tells us his thoughts so that he doesn't seem so removed from us readers.
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