Summary
Highlights
The novella 'La Patente' (The Driving License) was written by Luigi Pirandello in 1911 and included in his collection 'Novelle per un anno' in 1922. The story centers on Rosario Chiarchiaro, a man widely considered a jinx or 'iettatore,' who desires an official 'license' to certify his status. He seeks a judge, D'Andrea, to address his peculiar situation.
The novella begins by introducing Judge D'Andrea, a seemingly prematurely aged man of 40, burdened by his work and deeply committed to justice. He's an untiring judge who meticulously handles every case, except for one: Chiarchiaro's. This particular case presents a moral quandary, involving a perceived injustice against a man labeled a jinx, causing the judge immense distress.
Judge D'Andrea decides to summon Chiarchiaro, hoping to persuade him to drop the complaint, believing it's for his own good. However, Chiarchiaro presents himself as a true jinx, with a disheveled appearance, and challenges the judge not to touch him. Chiarchiaro explains that his family is impoverished, his wife paralyzed, and his daughters unmarried. He reveals his plan: he wants an official 'license' as a jinx, certified by the court, to legitimize his status and use it as a means of survival. He argues that if lawyers need a degree, he needs a 'patent' for his 'profession'.
Overwhelmed by Chiarchiaro's tragic situation, Judge D'Andrea, unable to speak, embraces him tightly. Chiarchiaro, touched by the judge's empathy, reiterates his desire for the 'patent'. The video then analyzes the novella's themes: humor, the disintegration of the self (where Chiarchiaro is forced to adopt a social mask to survive), and pessimism. The 'avvertimento del contrario' (sentiment of the opposite) is evident in D'Andrea's shift from initial amusement to deep understanding and embrace of Chiarchiaro's suffering. The grotesque also emerges in the exaggerated descriptions of the characters, reflecting their inner turmoil. Pirandello's novella was later adapted into a 1917 play and famously portrayed by Totò in the film 'Questa è la vita'.
Rosario Chiarchiaro was fired from his job at a pawn shop because he was considered a jinx. In response, he reported two young men who made a superstitious gesture when they saw him, indicating their belief in his jinx status. Judge D'Andrea initially dismisses this as rumor, but even his colleagues exhibit superstitious behaviors when the topic of Chiarchiaro is raised. The judge realizes that condemning the young men for defamation would be difficult, as the belief in Chiarchiaro's ill-luck is widespread.