Posted by Steven on 17/10/2011, 22:07:45, in reply to "Re: The Betrothed by Alessandro Manzoni"
76.186.51.185
The Unnamed was also a real person, Francesco Bernardino Visconti, who was converted by Cardinal Borromeo. The Wikipedia article on The Betrothed says that Gertrude, the Nun of Monza, was also based on a real person, but there's no footnote to this claim as there is in the case of the Unnamed.
I thought Gertrude was one of the most interesting characters in the novel. She's one of the few for whom you really have mixed feelings, because her position is entirely sympathetic, yet she sent another innocent young girl into captivity.
Manzoni shows corruption in the Church as well as saintliness. There was a certain amount of it involved in Gertrude's admission to the order, but more blatantly with Father Cristoforo's transfer.
The Ambrosian Library that Cardinal Borromeo founded in Milan is still there. Here is their website: http://www.ambrosiana.eu/jsp/index.jsp?lang=ENG Even though there is an option to select "Inglese" the page always comes up in Italian for me.
--Previous Message--
: I agree that Catholicism (and Christianity in general)
: is central to the novel. Redemption is a major theme.
: The Unnamed is the most striking example, but Renzo's
: sincere forgiveness toward Don Rodrigo at the end was
: also striking.
:
: It's astounding that the Cardinal was a real person,
: who seems to have been more or less as admirable in
: real life as Manzoni's characterization of him.
:
: I can't help but compare the Italian Manzoni with his
: French counterparts. Victor Hugo, for example, was
: only 17 years younger than Manzoni. Even though
: France is also a Catholic nation, it is difficult to
: imagine a French novel that has the reverence for the
: Church found in The Betrothed. Maybe this simply
: reflects Manzoni's personal beliefs. But I can't help
: thinking that this novel would never have been
: accepted in French culture, while in Italy, I am told
: that every schoolchild is required to read it.
:
:
:
:
: --Previous Message--
: It is impossible to discuss this book and avoid the
: subject of religion. It is obvious that Manzoni was a
: very Catholic man, although it's also evident that he
: was an enlightened, humane, and non-fanatic one. His
: humanism, in my opinion, is entirely easy to share,
: even if one dislikes Catholicism.
:
: Now, for me, the kids' story, although undoubtedly the
: backbone of the book, seems at some points to serve
: only as a cathalyst for the greater picture of
: Milanese society in the early XVII Century. Not that
: that diminishes in any way the story's quality, much
: on the contrary. But for me, the central characters
: are Dom Abbondio and the Unnamed, with Cardinal
: Federigo Borromeo and Father Christophorus coming to
: reinforce certain messages (by the way, is that how
: the names are spelled in English? I read a heavily
: annotated edition in Spanish).
:
: There are, I think, two turning points masterfully
: depicted: the Unnamed's conversion, a miracle of
: religion; and Cardinal Borromeo's lecturing of Dom
: Abbondio for his cowardice. Oh Lord! (sigh) that drug
: dealers and murderers could be converted by religion!!
:
: What do you think about this?
:
:
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