After the Divorce · Chapter
VII explained
Summer returns to Orlei.
What happens
Summer returns to Orlei. Giacobbe Dejas renews his contract with Aunt Martina, who is miserly and self-interested. He then visits Giovanna Era, who appears cheerful despite her misfortunes, and learns she has recent news of Costantino. Giacobbe seeks out Isidoro Pane to enlist his help in opposing Brontu Dejas's plan to marry Giovanna, but Isidoro is initially distracted, lamenting Costantino's fate. Meanwhile, Brontu, driven by passion, and Aunt Bachissia, motivated by greed, push forward the marriage scheme, with Aunt Martina supporting it for practical reasons. The chapter also includes a flashback to a previous autumn when Aunt Bachissia visited Brontu's hut to borrow money, leading Brontu to decide to go to Giovanna's house to speak with her directly.
Themes in this chapter
Social Class and Community
The chapter highlights class divisions: the Dejases' wealth versus the Eras' poverty, with Aunt Martina viewing Giovanna as a cheap bride and Aunt Bachissia's desperate loan request.
Love and Betrayal
Brontu's pursuit of Giovanna while Costantino is imprisoned represents a betrayal of the prisoner, while Giovanna's passive resistance and continued contact with Costantino complicate loyalties.
Suffering and Resilience
Giovanna's cheerful demeanor despite poverty and Costantino's imprisonment, and Isidoro's lament for Costantino ('Poor Costantino! poor lamb!') underscore resilience in the face of suffering.
Characters to notice
- Giacobbe Dejas
Renews his contract with Aunt Martina, detesting her miserliness. He actively works to prevent Brontu's marriage to Giovanna, seeking Isidoro Pane's help and warning Giovanna about Aunt Martina.
- Aunt Martina Dejas
Miserly and self-interested, she supports Brontu's marriage to Giovanna because it would be cheap and secret, comparing Giovanna to a slave entering the house.
- Brontu Dejas
Driven by passion for Giovanna, he torments Giacobbe with his marriage project. In a flashback, he decides to go to Giovanna's house to speak with her after Aunt Bachissia's visit.
- Giovanna Era
Appears cheerful and rosy despite her poverty and Costantino's imprisonment. She has recent news of Costantino and is the passive object of Brontu's pursuit.
- Isidoro Pane
Initially distracted and lamenting Costantino's fate, he eventually agrees to go talk to Giovanna to prevent the scandal, acting as a potential moral influence.
- Aunt Bachissia
Visits Brontu's hut to borrow money due to poverty, driven by greed. She supports the marriage scheme, acting as a force opposing Costantino's interests.
Key passages
“She might have married Brontu Dejas at first for his beautiful teeth, but having once fallen in love with Costantino, she would not have thrown him over for the Viceroy himself, had Sardinia still possessed one.”
Giovanna could have initially been attracted to Brontu's looks, but after falling in love with Costantino, she would not have abandoned him for anyone, no matter how powerful.
Highlights Giovanna's past loyalty to Costantino, contrasting with her current situation.
“A woman in good standing coming into the house as a bride, might entail all manner of extravagance and outlay, and the wedding alone would be sure to mean a heavy expense. Whereas, in the case of Giovanna, the marriage would be conducted almost in secret, and she would steal into the house like a slave!”
A respectable bride would bring costly demands and a big wedding, but Giovanna would marry quietly and cheaply, entering the household as if she were a servant.
Reveals Aunt Martina's calculating, class-based reasoning for supporting the marriage.
“Poor Costantino! poor lamb! What have they done to you?”
Isidoro repeatedly laments Costantino's suffering, expressing pity for the innocent prisoner.
Shows Isidoro's sympathy for Costantino and his role as a moral voice in the community.
