The Charterhouse of Parma · Chapter
To the Reader explained
The author explains the origins of the story, which was written in the winter of 1830, far from Paris, and based on a tale told by a Canon's nephew in Padua.
What happens
The author explains the origins of the story, which was written in the winter of 1830, far from Paris, and based on a tale told by a Canon's nephew in Padua. The narrative is drawn from the Canon's journal and concerns the Duchessa Sanseverina and the intrigues of the Parma court. The author notes that the Italian characters differ from French ones in their sincerity and passion, and that he has left their natural asperities intact while adding moral censure.
Themes in this chapter
Italian National Character
The author contrasts Italian sincerity and passion with French morality, emphasizing that the Italian characters are honest and driven by emotion rather than money.
Hypocrisy and Morality
The author acknowledges the moral censure he applies to the characters' actions, while noting that the story itself is 'anything but moral' and that the characters retain their natural asperities.
Characters to notice
- Duchessa Sanseverina
Central figure of the story related by the Canon's nephew; her adventures are the focus of the tale.
Key passages
“It was in the winter of 1830 and three hundred leagues from Paris that this tale was written; thus it contains no allusion to the events of 1839.”
The story was composed in the winter of 1830, far from Paris, so it does not reference any events from 1839.
The author establishes the temporal and geographical setting of the narrative's creation.
“The Italians are sincere, honest folk and, not taking offence, say what is in their minds; it is only when the mood seizes them that they show any vanity; which then becomes passion, and goes by the name of puntiglio.”
Italians are straightforward and truthful, speaking their thoughts without taking offense; their vanity only appears when they are in a certain mood, and then it turns into a passionate obsession called puntiglio.
The author contrasts Italian character with French, highlighting sincerity and passion.