After the Divorce · Chapter
VI explained
Costantino endures a harrowing sea voyage to prison, suffering from seasickness and despair.
What happens
Costantino endures a harrowing sea voyage to prison, suffering from seasickness and despair. Upon arrival, he is placed in solitary confinement for six months. He copes by composing lauds to San Costantino, dreaming of home, and maintaining hope for exoneration. He receives a letter from Giovanna with news of their son and the village, but learns she works for the Dejases, causing him vague alarm. He sends the laud home via a clandestine correspondence.
Themes in this chapter
Suffering and Resilience
Costantino endures physical and mental agony during the voyage and solitary confinement, yet finds solace in composing lauds and maintaining hope.
Isolation and Longing
Costantino's solitary cell and homesickness drive him to dwell on memories of Giovanna and the village; his letter from her becomes a lifeline.
Religion and Morality
Costantino views his imprisonment as expiation for living with Giovanna without religious marriage; he composes lauds and seeks the chaplain's approval.
Characters to notice
- Costantino Ledda
Endures a stormy sea voyage and solitary confinement; composes lauds to San Costantino; receives a letter from Giovanna and feels alarm about her working for the Dejases.
- Giovanna Era
Writes to Costantino about their son, village news, and her work for the Dejases; her letter brings Costantino intense happiness and vague alarm.
- Isidoro Pane
Receives the lauds written in blood and sings them in church; claims an old man in white handed them to him.
- Giacobbe Dejas
Hired himself out to his rich relatives, as mentioned in Giovanna's letter.
- Brontu Dejas
Mentioned as having a passion for Giovanna, which she had refused; Costantino feels alarm upon learning Giovanna works at the Dejases.
- Aunt Bachissia
Works for the rich Dejases alongside Giovanna, as reported in the letter.
Key passages
“He was persuaded that what he was enduring was in expiation of that mortal sin, as he regarded it, of having lived with a woman to whom he had not been married by religious ceremony, and he felt an absolute certainty that, this sin atoned for, his innocence would some day be established and he would be set free.”
Costantino believed his suffering was punishment for cohabiting with Giovanna without a church wedding, and he was sure that once he had atoned, his innocence would be proven and he would be released.
Reveals Costantino's religious guilt and his hope for eventual exoneration.
“The answer did arrive, sure enough, in May, and gave him the most intense happiness. Giovanna wrote that the boy had been unwell... now, however, he was entirely well again.”
In May, Costantino finally received Giovanna's letter, which brought him great joy; she reported that their son had been sick but had recovered.
Highlights the emotional importance of the letter and the news about their child.
“Only, it disturbed him a little to learn that Giovanna sometimes worked at the Dejases’. He knew of Brontu’s passion for her, and that she had refused him, and as he read this part of the letter he experienced a first, vague sensation of alarm.”
Costantino was troubled to learn that Giovanna worked for the Dejases, knowing Brontu's desire for her, and felt a vague unease.
Foreshadows future conflict and Costantino's jealousy.