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What is the Risorgimento?

How did the Risorgimento affect Northern Italy and Sicily differently?

Who was Giuseppe Tomasi Di Lampedusa?

How is Il Gattopardo distinct from other Italian literary works of the time?

What is a zeitgeist?

How is Il Gattopardo by Giuseppe Tomasi Di Lampedusa a zeitgeist for 19th century Sicily?

What was Sicilian society like during the end of the nineteenth century?

What elements of Il Gattopardo are biographical?

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2020-01-20
Spanish and Italian Literature during the Renaissance.

My issue with this topic is: including two languages in a non-comparative style may make my subject too broad.

2020-01-28
Italian Literature that contributed to the unification of Italy in 1861.

I have now focused my essay topic on Italian Literature which I think is much more reasonable than Spanish and Italian literature.

However, I need to magnify my topic even more to include only one aspect of Italian literature, such as modernism and liberalism.

If I focus my essay on an artistic concept found in Italian literature, I may need to consider the possibility of using one piece of literature.

2020-01-29
How did liberalism within Confessioni d'un Italiano by Ippolito Nievo encourage Risorgimento.

As discussed in class, my topic previously focused too much on how literature affected Italians during the 19th century. Since I do not possess any form of time travel, my topic now focuses on the content of one Italian novel.

2020-02-01
How was Italian Nationalism present within Le Confessioni D'un Italiano.

2020-01-25
How is Il Gattopardo by Giuseppe Tomasi Di Lampedusa a zeitgeist for 19th century Sicily?

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The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. “Risorgimento | Italian History.” Encyclopedia Britannica, 9 Feb. 2017, www.britannica.com/event/Risorgimento.

Borutta, Manuel. “Anti-Catholicism and the Culture War in Risorgimento Italy.” The Risorgimento Revisited, 2012, pp. 191–213. Crossref, doi:10.1057/9780230362758_11.

Bouchard, Norma. “Tomasi Di Lampedusa’s Il Gattopardo and Postwar Italian Political Culture.” Risorgimento in Modern Italian Culture: Revisiting the Nineteenth Century Past in History, Narrative, and Cinema (The Fairleigh Dickinson University Press Series in Italian Studies), edited by Norma Bouchard, Fairleigh Dickinson University Press, 2005, pp. 57–60.

Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. "Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa". Encyclopedia Britannica, 19 Dec. 2020, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Giuseppe-Tomasi-di-Lampedusa. Accessed 21 February 2021.

Costadura, Edoardo. “L’image de La Noblesse Dans Le Gattopardo de Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa.” Neohelicon, vol. 42, no. 1, 2014, pp. 173–94. Crossref, doi:10.1007/s11059-014-0268-3.

Davis, John. “Introduction: Law and Order in a Changing World: Italy 1790- 1900.” Conflict and Control: Law and Order in Nineteenth Century Italy, edited by John Davis, PDF ed., Macmillan Publication Ltd, 1988, pp. 1–17.

Derek Beales, and Eugenio F. Biagini. The Risorgimento and the Unification of Italy. Vol. 2nd ed, Routledge, 2014. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=e000xna&AN=813175&site=ehost-live&scope=site.

Foot, John , Berengo, Marino , Larner, John , Signoretta, Paola E. , Palma, Giuseppe Di , Palma, Giuseppe Di , Lovett, Clara M. , Knights, Melanie F. , King, Russell L. , Powell, James M. , Nangeroni, Giuseppe , Marino, John A. , Clark, Martin and Wickham, Christopher John. "Italy". Encyclopedia Britannica, 17 Feb. 2021, https://www.britannica.com/place/Italy. Accessed 22 February 2021.

Lampedusa, Tomasi Giuseppe. Il Gattopardo (Italian Edition). Feltrinelli Traveller, 2018.

Riall, L. "Italianità in the Risorgimento: the Language, Art, and Religion of Mazzini’s Nationalism." (2019).

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"Risorgimento" an article by Encyclopedia Britannica, inspired my first thesis question: How did Italian literature contribute to the unification of Italy in 1861.

"Anti-Catholicism and the Culture War in Risorgimento Italy" divulges that Italian society during the nineteenth century was that of division and conflict. Manuel Borutta asserts that all aspects of Italian society were in turmoil due to the integration of the idea of secularization from other European countries. In addition, Borutta's book explains that the idea of secularization was predominantly an upper class concern and Catholicism was strongly defended by the lower class. (After reading “Tomasi Di Lampedusa’s Il Gattopardo and Postwar Italian Political Culture." I have concluded that only in Northern Italy did the upper class promote secularization, but in Sicily, where Il Gattopardo is set, the Upper class as well as Giuseppe Tomasi remained conservative.)
Given this reading my definition of the Zeitgeist can be updated as follows: Nineteenth century Italy depicted a division between religion and knowledge. Therefore, it is imperative that I analyze the many characters in il Gattopardo to  examine whether their views are consistent with this segregation.

“Tomasi Di Lampedusa’s Il Gattopardo and Postwar Italian Political Culture.” This chapter dictates that Giuseppe Tomasi's book was not well received by Northern Italians due to Giuseppe Tomasi himself being a member of the aristocracy. Since the revolution of the Risorgimento was a rejection of higher dominating powers and an emergence of "Italianism," Northern Italy rejected Giuseppe Tomasi's alternate perspective. Not only does this mean that we get an insight on a rare point of view from the Risorgimento, but that I am lucky to be reading this book at all! Norma Bouchard goes on to explain that the protagonist of Il Gattopardo, Don Fabrizio; parallel to its author, is a member of the aristocracy. Therefore, Il Gattopardo can be seen as a criticism of the Risorgimento which is a fascinatingly rare perspective among nineteenth century literature. Next, Bouchard explains the rejection of Tomasi's work was grounded on the excuse that Northern Italy was "modern and progressive" while the South remained "reactionary and conservative" (Bouchard 59). This source alters my perspective of nineteenth century Zeitgeist as follows: The Sicilian Aristocracy during the nineteenth century did not support secularization like Northern Italian leaders since I have read that Sicily has often been perceived as a haven for right wing ideology.

"Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa" This Britannica entry provides necessary details on the author of Il Gattopardo's life. For example, I learned that Giuseppe Tomasi served in world war II, was imprisoned by in  Hungary, and escaped to Italy by foot. Had the Risorgimento been violence free, I would say this information would be useless, but since the Risorgimento necessitated taking Sicily by force, Tomasi may provide an even more realistic view of 1860 Sicily thanks to his own experience. The article then divulges that his military experience made Giuseppe Tomasi devote the rest of his days to literature. I think this is crucial since Il Gattopardo is a narrative on Don Fabrizio's thoughts and ideas. This may suggest that Fabrizio's thoughts may not be consistent with the Zeitgeist of nineteenth century Italy since they could be mirrored with Tomasi's own ideologies.

“L’image de La Noblesse Dans Le Gattopardo de Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa.” Firstly, this source addresses the conquest of Sicily in 1860 and shows that Il Gattopardo begins it's narrative during this event. Therefore, I can conclude that Il Gattopardo stays true to history. This text then explains that aristocrats are often expected to abide by a formal dress code and dawn a composed demeanor at all times. Thus, I can observe Don Fabrizio's actions and determine whether he follows these norms.

“Introduction: Law and Order in a Changing World: Italy 1790- 1900.” The first pages of this book regard how during Napoleon's reign over Italy, vagrancy was illegal. However John Davis divulges that some Italian farmers would hire bands of vagrants to help in seasonal work. Therefore, I can deduce whether or not Il Gattopardo is an accurate Zeitgeist based on the depiction of, if any, indigents within Tomasi's book. Next John Davis explains both Italian civil wars which were that of Sardinia and that of Piedomont. We know Il Gattopardo begins during the battle of Sardinia, therefore, I can confirm Il Gattopardo stays true to history.

Il Gattopardo by Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa exhibits the Sicilian aristocratic point of view of Don Fabrizio during the Risorgimento. The story begins with the Expedition of the thousand which is a real event that occurred on May 11th 1860. Fabrizio's nephew, Tancredi, is highly adaptable and recognizes the changes which all of Italy is about to face. So the nephew utters the quote "If we want things to stay as they are, things will have to change" and then he sets off to join the battle against Sicily. So, in order to preserve his aristocratic way of life, Don Fabrizio put his faith in Tancredi to steer soldiers away from his Fabrizio's estate. In the meantime Fabrizio and his family seek refuge in Donnafugata. There the Salina family meets Don Calogero who has a very beautiful daughter. Eventually, against all aristocratic traditions for families to marry into wealth, Tancredi marries the beautiful daughter of Don Calogero. The narrative explains how Tancredi and Angelica begin extremely happy in Palermo, but over the years their marriage spoils. Then Il Gattopardo takes a turn and fastforwards twenty years later when Don Fabrizio is dying. He looks at the remainder of his family around him and internalizes how he felt and what he regrets. The story ends with Fabrizio's last breath signifying the end of the Sicilian aristocracy.

Elements of Don Fabrizio's life:
Foods:
Almond Cookies
Minestra
Orange and Lemon Groves
Gelato
Monreale Biscuits
Masala Wine
Cariocavallo Cheese

Art:
Rococco Style
Capadimonte porcelein
Charles Beauddelaire
"Viraviso, o luoghi ameni"
Sicily Bellini
Aleardo Aleardi
Verdi Opera
"Traviatta"
Graffiti "Viva VERDI"
"Donnez moi la force et le courage de contempler mon corp sans degout."
Journal des savants

Architecture:
Salina House:
Silken Walls
rococco
Magdalin
Massive "garden for the blind"
Wax polished tiles
art on wall from 1700

Palermo:
Low shuttered houses
Convents and monasteries
"Squat Domes"
Suburbs begin at Villa Airoldi

Metaphors
Rum Jelly is pristine when served to Fabrizio, but as it makes its way down to tancredi it is picked apart and Tancredi is left with the "rubble" This symbolises the change which is to come from the Risorgimento. Beautiful architecture will be reduced to ashes, and the people will own nothing.
Garibaldi reminds Fabrizio of a Vulcan who is the Roman God of fire. Fabrizio says this as an afterthought and does not go in depth about this statement, but Garibaldi will change Fabrizio's life forever. So, it is ironic that Fabrizio says this so casually since it will have major implications later on.

Flowers and medicines:
Auracarias
pines
ilexes
myrtle
yellow black lycan
acacia trees
roses magnolias
carnations
mint
Paul Neyzon Roses

Real events
Expedition of the thousand May 11th 1860
Graffiti "Viva Verdi"
Description of Geography is accurate. Fabrizio describes the journey from his villa to Palermo.
Night march on Gibilrossa
Bixio e la Mosa
assault on la porta di Termini
Slaughter of Bourbon Police

Aristocratic traditions:
Feaudalism:
Farmer and Herder come to pay rent with products
Tradition:
Only Prince of Salina may enter the convents
Proper Hygiene "bath, soap, comb"
Distinction between evening and Lunch attire.
Instruction on how to hold a fork properly.
The order in which meals must be served.