The Charterhouse of Parma · Chapter
Chapter XVII explained
Conte Mosca, devastated by the Duchessa's rejection and Fabrizio's impending execution, resigns as Prime Minister and calculates his modest fortune.
What happens
Conte Mosca, devastated by the Duchessa's rejection and Fabrizio's impending execution, resigns as Prime Minister and calculates his modest fortune. He negotiates with Fiscal Rassi, offering the Cross of San Paolo in exchange for information about Fabrizio's fate, and learns the Prince is enraged with the Duchessa. Mosca sends Fabrizio a purse of six thousand francs and, in a moment of despair, visits the elderly Princess Isotta, contemplating a grotesque marriage proposal.
Themes in this chapter
Power and Politics
Conte Mosca's resignation, negotiation with Rassi, and the Prince's manipulation of Fabrizio's fate highlight the political machinations of the Parmesan court.
Sacrifice and Redemption
Mosca sacrifices his position and fortune for Fabrizio's life, seeking redemption for his perceived mistake that led to Fabrizio's imprisonment.
Love and Passion
Mosca's despair over losing the Duchessa's love drives his actions, including his visit to Princess Isotta and his passionate devotion to the Duchessa's portrait.
Characters to notice
- Conte Mosca
Resigns as Prime Minister, calculates his fortune, negotiates with Rassi, and sends money to Fabrizio; visits Princess Isotta in a desperate act.
- Duchessa Sanseverina
Appears in society again, breaks with Conte Mosca, and shows indifference to Fabrizio's fate, though she is pale from illness.
- Rassi
Fiscal General who negotiates with Conte Mosca, reveals the Prince's anger, and is offered the Cross of San Paolo.
- Fabrizio del Dongo
Imprisoned and facing execution; Conte Mosca sends him a purse of six thousand francs.
- Princess Isotta
Elderly Princess visited by Conte Mosca, who considers marrying her to secure his position.
- Marchesa Raversi
Mentioned as the patron of Conte Baldi, the Duchessa's new flirtation.
Key passages
“She is right, I quite agree... my omission of the words 'unjust proceedings' is a dreadful misfortune; it will involve perhaps the death of Fabrizio, and that will lead to my own.”
Mosca acknowledges his mistake in omitting the phrase 'unjust proceedings' from a document, which he fears will cause Fabrizio's execution and his own ruin.
Mosca's guilt over his error that endangered Fabrizio.
“I have made an estimate of my fortune, at the most I may be able to put together an income of twenty thousand lire, on which I propose to offer my resignation, most humbly, to the Sovereign.”
Mosca calculates his wealth at 500,000 francs, yielding only 20,000 lire annually, and decides to resign as Prime Minister.
Mosca's financial reckoning and decision to step down.
“I wish Fabrizio to receive these six thousand francs, and on no account is the Castle to know anything of the matter.”
Mosca insists that Fabrizio be given six thousand francs secretly, bypassing prison regulations.
Mosca's covert support for Fabrizio in prison.