Agostino……… I guess I should be thinking with an open mind and critically or whatever… But I cannot stand these nasty boys! From literally the first few pages I was already uncomfortable. Why are these boys always so obsessed with their moms.? Like okay. From the first page I already knew what I was getting into with all this jealousy and fixation on his mother and her looks. But oh my god bruh.
One moment I HATE is when the novel describes Agostino’s mother as “still in her prime,” which felt so rude and unnecessary. What does that even mean? It just felt instantly misogynistic, like her value is tied to desirability, even though she’s literally just existing as a mother on vacation. Maybe I am just being nitpicky but I’m already in a bad mood, so whatever.
I feel like there is this common but WEIRD trope of a beautiful single mother and her son, where the son is obsessed with the mom and hates her bf because the son lowkey or highkey wants her.. and this trope is often played as like a gag or something… Maybe I’m making this up… But Agostino and his mother’s relationship is basically that… IT’S ALWAYS FREUD. Their relationship isn’t even like entirely unhealthy.. it’s just a bit odd.. Like his mother isn’t doing anything wildly extreme. She’s affectionate, maybe a little self-absorbed, and kind of weirdly drags him along on these boating “dates” with her young bf. I don’t even know if neglectful is the right word, but it’s definitely inappropriate and confusing for a child..
Once Agostino learns about sex I guess. Everything gets worse. The knowledge “destroys the aura of dignity and respect” he had for his mother (p.42), which is such a gross idea in itself. Like, women can’t be respected once they’re sexual? OMG leave her alone! Why are we watching our mother half naked? Why are we hoping to catch her naked!? Obviously, I understand there are deeper psychological and symbolic readings here, and I’m probably engaging with this at a surface level… but I still hated it.
ALSO. I hated reading about the group of boys. They’re cruel, violent, misogynistic, and constantly humiliating Agostino. The way they talk about women, especially Agostino’s mother is disgusting. LEAVE HER ALONE… And I can’t deal with Saro. This 50-ish-year-old lifeguard hanging around these kids. Why is he here? Why is he so nasty? And what exactly is being implied about what happens on those boat rides? Like. Just control your WILD gang of children. NASTY.
I think I get that the novel is about the loss of innocence, class difference, and masculinity. But I really disliked how that innocence was contrasted against “savage,” poor boys and sexualized women. Like. Of course these poorer boys are nasty, love sex, are evil and animals! Oh but this rich, sheltered, boy is sooo innocent and loves his mom! But now he is “TAINTED” by these BROKE ANIMALS!! WHATEVER…….. Yes I should try to look back on this novel with a more open and mature lens but I really don’t want to think about this 13 yr old boy being attracted to his mother anymore. Sorry. This book made me uncomfortable from start to finish and maybe that is the point, but still. YUCKK.
Also, sorry this may have been my most poorly written blog so far! I promise I know proper grammar and have a university level vocabulary…
My question: Do you think Moravia uses discomfort, especially around class, sexuality, and Agostino’s relationship to his mother, to critique these dynamics, or does it end up reinforcing the same misogynistic and classist ideas it exposes?
Miranda, this is not *at all* a “poorly written blog* (not in fact that it would matter if it were). It’s very eloquent and articulate.
We will talk about Freud no doubt on Monday. Of course, for Freud, none of this is particularly odd… he would argue it is very normal.
Personally, however, I agree rather more with what you say about the boys and especially about Saro. Though I think Moravia would also agree about Saro in particular: the book signals that there is indeed something unhealthy about Saro; even physically, in Moravia’s depiction he is something of a monster.
And I like your questions. We will also surely talk about discomfort on Monday. Why would an author want to make us feel uncomfortable?
I agree so much with your view. Exactly every single word you said, this book is uncomfortable in so many ways. Also, I liked that you pointed out the Saro thing, WEIRD.
Yeah I agree that the book was quite weird. and the fact he enjoyed how people were talking about his mother says a lot. I guess the author wanted really envoke emotions in us by making us feel uncomfortable.