Ugo Foscolo: vita e opere

Summary

In this video, we delve into the life of Ugo Foscolo, a passionate and restless hero whose ideals and personal struggles shaped his literary legacy. Born in 1778 on the Greek island of Zante, Foscolo's journey was marked by political disillusionment, romantic relationships, and personal losses, including the death of his brother. His work, such as the epistolary novel *Le ultime lettere di Jacopo Ortis*, reflects his emotional turmoil and rebellion against political oppression. Foscolo’s life culminated in self-exile in London, where he died in poverty. His legacy endures through his influential writings, including his tragedy *Aiace*.

Takeaways

• 😀 Ugo Foscolo, a passionate and restless lover of life, represents a modern hero, more than many famous cinematic characters.
• 😀 Foscolo was born in Zante (modern-day Greece) in 1778, to an Italian father and a Greek mother. At that time, the island was under Venetian rule.
• 😀 Foscolo's early life was marked by the death of his father when he was only 10, leading his family to move to Venice.
• 😀 He studied literature, classical works, and Enlightenment ideals, embracing atheism, materialism, and other revolutionary values.
• 😀 Foscolo was drawn to luxury, women, and the pleasures of life, often getting into debt as a result of his indulgences.
• 😀 A pivotal event in his life was the Treaty of Campoformio (1797), which ceded Venice to Austria. This deeply disappointed Foscolo, who had supported the French Revolution.
• 😀 After this betrayal, Foscolo moved around Italy, writing 'The Last Letters of Jacopo Ortis' (1802), an epistolary novel exploring political disillusionment.
• 😀 Foscolo briefly served as a captain in the Italian Republic's army and had several romantic relationships that remained significant throughout his life.
• 😀 The death of his brother Giovanni in 1801 deeply affected Foscolo, leading him to write poems like 'A Zacinto' to express his grief and exile.
• 😀 In 1808, Foscolo had a short teaching stint at the University of Pavia but faced financial difficulties due to his lavish lifestyle. His interactions with intellectuals like Vincenzo Monti also led to conflicts.
• 😀 After Napoleon's defeat at Waterloo in 1815, Foscolo moved to London, where he lived in self-imposed exile and died in poverty in 1827, attended by his daughter.

Q & A

Who is Ugo Foscolo, and why is he considered a modern hero?

Ugo Foscolo is an Italian poet and writer known for his passionate nature, restlessness, and constant pursuit of ideals. He is considered a modern hero because of his complex character, combining a love for life with political disillusionment and a deep search for personal and national meaning.

What were the main influences on Ugo Foscolo's life and work?

Foscolo was influenced by the Enlightenment ideals, including atheism, materialism, and mechanistic views of the world. His political disillusionment, especially after the Treaty of Campoformio (1797), and personal tragedies, such as the death of his father and brother, shaped his works.

How did Foscolo react to the political events surrounding the Treaty of Campoformio?

Foscolo felt deeply betrayed by the Treaty of Campoformio, which ceded Venice to Austria. He had fought for Napoleon's ideals and viewed this event as a personal and political betrayal, leading him to write his novel *Le ultime lettere di Jacopo Ortis*, which explores the themes of despair and loss.

What is the significance of *Le ultime lettere di Jacopo Ortis* in Italian literature?

*Le ultime lettere di Jacopo Ortis* is significant because it is considered the first Italian epistolary novel. It is a landmark work in Italian literature, reflecting Foscolo's disillusionment with the political landscape and providing deep emotional insight into the human experience of loss and political betrayal.

What were some of the major personal challenges Foscolo faced during his life?

Foscolo faced personal challenges such as the death of his father at a young age, financial struggles due to his love for luxury and a lavish lifestyle, and the emotional toll of the death of his brother Giovanni. His political disillusionment also contributed to his inner turmoil.

How did Ugo Foscolo's love for luxury and women affect his life?

Foscolo's love for luxury and women led to frequent financial problems, as he often found himself in debt due to his extravagant lifestyle. His romantic relationships also played a significant role in his emotional life, with women like Isabella Roncioni and Antonietta Fagnani remaining important figures throughout his life.

What was Foscolo's role in the Napoleonic army, and how did it influence his views?

Foscolo served as a captain in Napoleon's army, where he fought for the ideals of the French Revolution. However, his disillusionment with the political direction of Napoleon and the subsequent betrayal of Venice led him to become critical of his earlier allegiances and the revolutionary ideals he had once embraced.

Why did Foscolo leave Italy, and what were the consequences of his exile?

Foscolo left Italy to avoid swearing loyalty to the Austrian rulers who had regained control of the peninsula after Napoleon's defeat. His self-imposed exile took him to London, where he lived in poverty until his death in 1827. The exile was also a reflection of his political and personal struggles.

What is the significance of Foscolo's tomb, and where is it located?

Foscolo's tomb is located in the Basilica of Santa Croce in Florence, alongside other famous figures like Michelangelo and Galileo. This is a significant site, as it honors Foscolo's contributions to Italian literature and his place in the nation's cultural history.

How did Foscolo's final years reflect his broader literary themes?

In his final years, Foscolo experienced both personal and financial hardship, living in exile in London. His works often reflected themes of loss, exile, and the search for identity, which were deeply connected to his own experiences of disillusionment, emotional turmoil, and political betrayal.