The Charterhouse of Parma · Chapter
Chapter XIX explained
Clelia Conti struggles with her feelings for Fabrizio del Dongo, torn between her love and her fear of his fickleness and his ties to the Duchessa Sanseverina.
What happens
Clelia Conti struggles with her feelings for Fabrizio del Dongo, torn between her love and her fear of his fickleness and his ties to the Duchessa Sanseverina. General Fabio Conti pressures her to marry the wealthy Marchese Crescenzi, threatening to send her to a convent. Meanwhile, Fabrizio's imprisonment continues, with the Conte Mosca and the Duchessa working to protect him. A serenade by the Marchese Crescenzi leads to a failed attempt to communicate with Fabrizio, and the governor's strict security measures are highlighted.
Themes in this chapter
Love and Passion
Clelia's intense but conflicted love for Fabrizio is central, marked by jealousy and fear of his fickleness.
Freedom vs. Imprisonment
Fabrizio's physical imprisonment in the citadel mirrors Clelia's emotional and social constraints, as she faces pressure to marry.
Power and Politics
General Conti's ambition and the political maneuvering of Mosca and the Duchessa illustrate the power struggles at court.
Characters to notice
- Clelia Conti
Torn by jealousy and fear, she struggles with her love for Fabrizio and her father's pressure to marry the Marchese Crescenzi.
- Fabrizio del Dongo
Imprisoned in the Farnese Tower, he is allowed brief airings by Don Cesare and is the subject of Clelia's conflicted affections.
- General Fabio Conti
Governor of the citadel, ambitious and paranoid, he pressures Clelia to marry and enforces strict security measures.
- Conte Mosca
Works to protect Fabrizio, threatening General Conti and orchestrating a warning to the clerk Barbone.
- Duchessa Sanseverina
Desperately tries to establish communication with Fabrizio, but her attempts are thwarted by the governor's vigilance.
- Marchese Crescenzi
Wealthy suitor of Clelia, he arranges serenades and is willing to marry her without a dowry.
Key passages
“But how charming it would be, nevertheless, to hear him make an avowal of his true feelings! What a joy for Clelia to be able to clear away those frightful suspicions which were poisoning her life!”
Clelia yearns for Fabrizio to confess his true feelings, hoping to dispel the jealous doubts that torment her.
Clelia's internal conflict between desire for truth and fear of rejection.
“If the least glimmer of sense remained in my mind, the unhappy Clelia said to herself, ought I not to take flight? Ought I not to beg my father to shut me up in some convent far away?”
Clelia berates herself for her irrational attachment, considering fleeing to a convent to escape her feelings.
Clelia's rational mind struggles against her emotional attachment to Fabrizio.
“General Fabio Conti made a magnificent reply and spoke of his bravery, but the look in the Conte’s eyes remained present in his thoughts.”
General Conti responded bravely to Mosca's threat, but he was still intimidated by the Conte's menacing gaze.
The power dynamic between Mosca and Conti, with Conti's fear despite his bravado.