Feminism in Lives of the Saints

Kenneth Tambuwun Ms. tumulus ENG4USB 26 October 2012 Feminism in Lives of the Saints custody and wo custody are expected to be different. In the novel Lives of the Saints by Nino Ricci, grammatical gender roles in Italy during the 1960s affect how the characters behave. Characters such as Cristina and Vittorio are affected by liveness in the patriarchal smart solidifying of Valle del touch on. feminist critical theory is observed in Cristinas strength, her independence and the society she lives in. libber terms such as semiology squirtister be applied to Cristinas strength and it is seen during the conversations of Cristina in the car after(prenominal) she had been bitten by the snake. Where did it bite I didnt think of it (Ricci 12). Cristina once again did not panic My mother let show up a sigh to other large numbers nonsense (Ricci 15). Cristina is strong as her words are calm conflicting what women would feel after they are bitten by a snake. Cristina goes agains t Phallogocentrism throughout the novel especially since she is not confined to a level(p) mother and she can do whatsoever she wants to un alike most women in the village. Cristina likewise shows Androgyny. The cloth sank into indifference to pain (Ricci 13) and The storey about my own ad go asleep (Ricci 13). It is clear that the villagers believe that Cristina can bear pain like a man. Cristinas strength differentiates her from the rest of the women in the story. Cristina is an independent woman as she does not rely on others because when Alfredo offered Cristina the money her conserve gave her, she rejected it. You think its the train his money (Ricci 97). After her husband left for America, she raised Vittorio by herself. Moreover, she solves her familys fuss by her own.When Vittorio had a fight and is psychic trauma by Vincenzo, instead of asking for care from her dad or anyone else, Cristina confronted Vincenzos mark and clarify things up with Maria and Vincen zo. She does not want others servicing at all. When she is offered a luxurious direction in the ship by Antonio Darcoangelo, she denied the room. Its kind of you that kind of luxury (Ricci 199). Cristina believes that she can survive by herself and prefers to do so without any help. Cristinas independence goes against what gender roles had put upon women. Patriarchy can be seen throughout the novel.Men are much respected in the village. Vittorio recalls about the memory when Mario hurled a plate towards her mother I saying my father against her cheek (Ricci 32). Cristinas husband abused her and yet she did not move to fight back because men are expected to behave that sort. High horizons in the village are held by man. Vittorio describes his grandfather as My grandfather since the time of the fascists (Ricci 2). A male have held the mayor position for a very long time. In addition, men have to dally and do all the job whereas women will depend for their husband. The men left geing parents followed (Ricci 166). Most men of the house are expected to work and find money abroad like Vittorios father. Valle del Sole is a society dominated by men. To sum it up, feminism can be repeatedly detect throughout the novel. Firstly, Cristina goes against the typical women who are xenophobic of pain. Secondly, Cristina is an independant woman. Last but not least, Valle del Sole itself is a patriarchal society. Gender roles set upon by society causes men and women to be different in one way or another. Works Cited Ricci, Nino. Lives of the Saints. Toronto Cormorant Books Inc, 2010. Print.