| "Cavalleria rusticana" | |
|---|---|
| Short story by Giovanni Verga | |
| Language | Italian |
| Publication | |
| Published in | Novelle rusticane |
| Publication date | 1883 |
| Cavalleria rusticana | |
|---|---|
| Date premiered | 1884 |
| Place premiered | Turin |
| Original language | Italian |
| Genre | Tragedy |
"Cavalleria rusticana" ( Italian for 'Rustic Chivalry') is a short story by the Sicilian Giovanni Verga, published in a collection entitled Novelle rusticane in 1883 and presented in dramatic form as a one-act tragedy at Turin in 1884. Pietro Mascagni made this prose play the basis of the verse-libretto of his one-act opera, Cavalleria rusticana (1890). [1]
The scene is a Sicilian village in the 19th century leading up to Easter Day. Turiddu Macca, a young peasant, son of a widowed mother, was in love with the coquette, Lola, the daughter of Farmer Angelo. On his return from military service, he finds her soon to be married to Alfio, a wealthy carter from Licodia. Out of pique, he pays his addresses to Santa, the daughter of the wealthy farmer Cola who falls desperately in love with him. Lola, annoyed that Turiddu should love anyone else, ensnares him again, and her husband's frequent absences enable them to meet at her house. Santa takes revenge on this abandonment by revealing the affair to Alfio, who has just returned from a journey, the relations of his wife, Lola, and Turiddu. The evening before Easter, Alfio finds Turiddu, ashamed to be seen in public and eating sausages with others in the village inn, and challenges him to a duel—a challenge which is sealed by the peasants' custom of embracing and biting the ear. After Turiddu gets a kiss from mother, he and Alfio go out the next morning to battle among the fig-trees of Canziria. After Turiddu deals the first blow, Alfio takes retribution by throwing dust to blind his opponent, and Turiddu is slain. [1]
Helen Rex Keller writes, "The story both in its narrative and its dramatic form presents in lively colors the fierce passions and primitive customs of the Sicilian peasantry." [1]
Attribution:
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .| Novels |
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