✅ MASTRO DON GESUALDO Giovanni Verga riassunto trama e commento

Summary

Mastro Don Gesualdo, a novel by Giovanni Verga published in 1888, is set in Sicily and follows the life of Gesualdo Motta, a poor mason who becomes wealthy through hard work but is driven by a desire for social elevation. His ambition leads to tragic consequences, as his relationships with his family, including his cold marriage to Bianca and strained relationship with his daughter Isabella, deteriorate. Despite acquiring nobility, Gesualdo dies in isolation, despised by his family and surrounded by the wealth he sought but could never truly enjoy. The novel explores themes of class, ambition, and the cost of social mobility.

Takeaways

• 😀 The novel *Mastro Don Gesualdo* was published in 1888 and is the second book in the *Cycle of the Defeated* after *I Malavoglia*.
• 😀 The story is set in Sicily, particularly between the provinces of Catania and Palermo, spanning the years 1820 to 1849.
• 😀 Historical events, including the revolutions of 1820-21 and 1848, serve as a backdrop for the novel's events.
• 😀 The protagonist, Gesualdo Motta, starts as a poor mason but eventually becomes extremely wealthy through hard work.
• 😀 Despite his wealth, Gesualdo's desire for social ascension and nobility leads him to make tragic decisions.
• 😀 Gesualdo marries Bianca, a noblewoman from a decaying aristocratic family, and the marriage is driven by mutual benefit.
• 😀 Gesualdo abandons his two children from a previous relationship, sending them to an orphanage to pursue his ambitions.
• 😀 Bianca is cold and distant toward Gesualdo, and their marriage lacks true intimacy. They have a daughter, Isabella, whom Gesualdo accepts as his own despite knowing she is not his biological child.
• 😀 Isabella grows resentful of Gesualdo, who she sees as crude and of lowly origins, while Gesualdo passively accepts her indifference.
• 😀 In the end, Gesualdo, now lonely and suffering from stomach cancer, dies in solitude, his wealth and nobility rendered meaningless, much like Mazzaro in *La Roba* who destroys his wealth in a similar manner.

Q & A

What is the central theme of *Mastro Don Gesualdo*?

The central theme of *Mastro Don Gesualdo* revolves around the struggles of social ascent, wealth accumulation, and the tragic consequences of personal ambition. It highlights how the protagonist's desire for social status and recognition leads to his eventual downfall and isolation.

Who is Gesualdo Motta and what is his background?

Gesualdo Motta is the protagonist of the novel. Initially very poor, he works as a mason (mastro) and earns wealth through his hard work. Despite his success, he comes from humble origins, which influences his desires for social improvement and nobility.

What is the significance of the title *Mastro Don Gesualdo*?

The title *Mastro Don Gesualdo* represents a contrast or oxymoron. 'Mastro' refers to Gesualdo's humble origins as a mason, while 'Don' signifies the title of nobility he gains through his wealth, emphasizing the tension between his background and his newly acquired status.

What role does Bianca play in Gesualdo’s life?

Bianca is the noblewoman whom Gesualdo marries. She comes from a decaying noble family, and although she is initially in a hidden relationship with her cousin, she eventually marries Gesualdo for his wealth. Despite the marriage, Bianca is cold and distant toward Gesualdo, and their relationship lacks intimacy.

How does Gesualdo treat his loyal servant Diodata?

Gesualdo is willing to sacrifice his loyal servant Diodata to achieve his social goals. Despite having two children with her, he does not recognize them and sends them to an orphanage, further showing his lack of attachment and the coldness of his character.

How does Gesualdo handle the relationship with his daughter, Isabella?

Gesualdo accepts Isabella as his daughter, despite knowing she is not biologically his, and raises her with love and care. However, Isabella resents him for his crude manners and humble origins, which causes a rift between them.

What is the relationship between Isabella and her fiancé, Corrado?

Isabella falls in love with Corrado, a noble yet poor poet, but Gesualdo opposes their relationship due to Corrado's lack of wealth. Isabella is eventually married off to the Duke of Lei, a noble from Palermo, as part of a strategic marriage arranged by Gesualdo.

What tragic fate awaits Gesualdo at the end of the novel?

Gesualdo's tragic end sees him dying alone, neglected by his family and society. His wealth and social status do not protect him from abandonment. His daughter Isabella despises him, and his son-in-law, the Duke of Lei, seizes all the wealth he accumulated. Gesualdo ultimately dies from stomach cancer, surrounded by indifference.

What is the symbolic significance of Gesualdo's destruction of his possessions before his death?

Gesualdo’s destruction of his possessions, just before his death, parallels the actions of Mazzaro in Verga’s novella *La Roba*. Both characters, upon realizing they will lose everything due to death, lash out in anger and frustration, symbolically trying to take their accumulated wealth with them to the afterlife.

How does the novel reflect the historical and social context of its time?

The novel is set against the backdrop of 19th-century Sicily, a period marked by social upheaval and revolutions in 1820, 1821, and 1848. These events influence the characters’ actions and the overall narrative, especially the themes of class struggle, social mobility, and the quest for power and status.