Agostino – My New #1 (Almost?)

To start, I think there is so much to unpack in Agostino. I enjoyed how Moravia framed the story as it was easy for me to follow the protagonist’s experience. It was so good that I finished it all in one sitting and actually think it is potentially my favourite out of all that we have read so far. One of the things that made this novel so compelling is how descriptive each sentence is and the amount of detail that is intertwined. Not only is it descriptive, but it also showcases each character’s emotions very well.

In my opinion, I felt that Agostino was more mature and adult-like up until the point when he meets Berto, one of the boys from the loose gang. This is because he is closely stuck to his mother during the summer vacation. Another reason for this thought is “playing cops and robbers” was the first time I got a sense that Agostino was truly a child (17). In a way, Berto unlocked the childness in Agostino. Yet, their relationship actually represents the development into adulthood? Something about this scenario (wanting to hang out with friends) felt more fitting than being with his mother and her young lover. He even goes to the lengths of  “beg[ging] for acceptance” (18). I found Agostino’s desire to find belonging a little strange.

My initial thoughts on Agostino’s relationship with Berto soon crumbled when I realized the quick turnaround in his character. This is exemplified in “the boy tricked him by suddenly stubbing out the lit cigarette on the back of Agostino’s hand” (21).

Another thing that stood out to me is the class differences and how the different beaches represent these distinctions. For example, Speranza beach “belongs” to Agostino and Vespucci is where the gang stayed. Potentially, Agostino visiting Berto and the others demonstrates the realities of life. Before, he was used to living a luxurious, almost perfect lifestyle.

In one moment, Agostino is walking naked, “feeling a vague, desperate desire to cross the river and disappear down the shore, leaving behind the boys, Saro, his mother, and his former life” (63). From this, I got a sense that he is dreaming of purity because he is completely bare. To create a new life, possibly enter adulthood without being in the confusing in-between.

Honestly, Chapter 3 left me slightly confused. I could not fully wrap my head around why Agostino is trying so hard to embody a new life and be deceiving. I noticed another shift when Agostino begins to refer to his mother as “the mother” (87). Overall, the part where Agostino starts distancing himself is something that would be interesting to discuss.

Here is my question: How does Agostino’s childhood differ from a typical child’s experiences? Why does Agostino pretend to be living a life that he is not?