I’m quite confused to be honest. I have been left with just a bundle of mixed feelings about this book. Some stemming from the enduring disgust upon realizing the main character’s strong Oedipus complex issue. And other feelings coming from just wishing him a better coming-of-age experience.
Moravia’s book discusses the struggles that a young 13-year-old boy has when he realizes his strong sexual desires are being invoked by none other than his own mother. Feeling jealousy as he sees her frolicking around with someone else, he joins with a group of rowdy, mannerless, and poor boys who expose the mature, intimate acts that define adulthood in a sickening fashion, leaving him confused and angry about his life. I certainly found myself feeling a very elder-sister urge to protect Agostino from the boys, especially Saro. The way he behaved with Agostino on the boat sent chills (not in a good way) because it was clearly an act that was concealed as innocent but definitely had ulterior motives. I think the author’s writing style kind of heightened the stress within such situations because the descriptions would progress slowly, revealing each part of the scene in a very gradual manner, keeping the readers hooked on as to what exactly is happening in the scene. That actually was a common theme throughout the writing style where the phrases, sentences, and word choices being used allowed the readers to think and imagine about all the little parts of the scenery or of a person, especially his mother. The way he described his mother really brought to the surface the strangely disturbing relationship that he had with her, which only existed in his mind for she was unaware as to all the promiscuous thoughts that would be running through her son’s head. As troubled I was by it, I found myself feeling really bad for the main character because of all the painful experiences he had, all in a flurry within a month. I applaud him for his bravery to continue to return to the group of boys even after getting so badly mistreated by them. I’m not great at handling extremely violent or traumatic scenes, so when I felt like the scene was getting messy, I often got a little worried that things would take a wrong turn. After reading those scenes, I really hoped that the main character would have gotten a better ending because for all he was facing because going through a transition with such a horrible association and lack of support, can really take a toll.
What piece of advice would you give to Agostino to help him go through this awkward phase?
Jon
February 7, 2022 — 11:18 pm
“I certainly found myself feeling a very elder-sister urge to protect Agostino”
Ha! 🙂
But I guess that, if we were going to be Freudian about this, one point of view might be that part of the process of becoming adult involves confronting what can be difficult and even traumatic. At the outset of the novel, Agostino feels safe and protected, but this is a relationship with his mother that cannot last and must be broken. Or to put it another way: your elder sister won’t always be around to look after you!
suroor mansouri
February 8, 2022 — 12:47 am
I wouldn’t say I agree with being an elder-sister figure to Agostino, simply knowing the way his mind was working during that time but I guess I understand that by acknowledging the turmoil he went through, questions are raised on what effect a present role model perhaps less villainous than the gang of boys, could have on Agostino! I wouldn’t recommend a female as we have seen how vulnerable Agostino was to sexualizing women around him but definitely wonder if he would have gone through the turmoil of transitioning into manhood so explicitly if his father were alive!
daelyn wagner
February 8, 2022 — 9:49 pm
To answer your question, I think that I would try to help Agostino gain better perspective on his situation/relationship with his mother. He is clearly confused and I think that he is going too far out of his way to only see his mother as a female.