Summary
Highlights
In 1883, Don Fabrizio, now a widower and ailing, feels his life draining away. After a trip to Naples for medical treatment, he falls ill and is brought to the Trinacria hotel. He reflects on his life's joys and sorrows, recalling Bendicò, his dogs, happy moments in Donnafugata, and his scientific pursuits. He considers himself the last true Salina, symbolizing the end of his noble house. As he lies dying, the sea's roar subsides, and he passes away peacefully, contemplating the heavens he so loved.
The video introduces Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa and his seminal novel, "Il Gattopardo" (The Leopard). The speaker encourages viewers to read the book, highlighting its importance and the author's noble Sicilian lineage. Lampedusa, born in Palermo in 1896, was a Duke and Prince whose family crest featured a leopard, a direct inspiration for the novel's title. He lived through both World Wars and opposed fascism, later deciding to write "Il Gattopardo" after a discussion with Montale in 1954. Tragically, Lampedusa died in 1957 before its publication, which became a significant literary case after initial rejections before Giorgio Bassani helped publish it with Feltrinelli in 1958.
Although appearing to be a 19th-century naturalistic novel, "Il Gattopardo" is fundamentally decadent, focusing on the interior life and decline of Prince Fabrizio Salina. The novel is characterized by a melancholic and pessimistic tone, seen through the eyes of the aging Prince. The story is set in Sicily between May 1860 and May 1910, spanning the birth and development of the Kingdom of Italy. The 1860s context includes the Sicilian revolts against Bourbon rule and the arrival of Garibaldi, marking a period of profound change for the island, which is metaphorically presented as a place under the shadow of death.
Part one begins in May 1860, following the failed revolt of La Gancia in Palermo. The narrative introduces the Salina family, headed by Prince Fabrizio Salina, a towering and intelligent man with a passion for astronomy, inspired by Lampedusa's great-grandfather. The Prince, despite his aristocratic ideals, observes the decay of his class. His beloved nephew, Tancredi, a charismatic but frivolous young man, joins Garibaldi's forces. Tancredi utters the famous line, "If we want things to stay as they are, things will have to change," encapsulating the novel's central theme of superficial change masking underlying continuity in power structures. The section also touches upon Garibaldi's landing in Marsala and his proclamation as dictator.
In August 1860, despite political unrest, the Salina family travels to their estate in Donnafugata. Tancredi, now a captain, helps secure their passage. The journey is arduous, but they are eventually welcomed at Donnafugata. This part introduces key characters like Don Calogero Sedara, the wealthy and powerful mayor, and his beautiful daughter, Angelica. Concetta, the Prince's daughter, is secretly in love with Tancredi, but the Prince believes their love is unrequited and dismisses it as childish fantasy. Don Calogero’s newly acquired wealth and influence are contrasted with the dignified but declining Salina family.
By October 1860, Tancredi, despite being away with the army, writes to the Prince expressing his intense love for Angelica and asks his uncle to propose marriage on his behalf. A significant historical event, the plebiscite for Sicily's annexation to Italy, takes place. The Prince, voting 'yes,' observes the manipulation of votes, noting the overwhelming 'yes' in Donnafugata (512 out of 515 votes). Don Ciccio Tumeo, a loyal old friend, expresses his disillusionment with the plebiscite, where his 'no' vote was turned into a 'yes' by the authorities. The Prince then visits Don Calogero to arrange the marriage between Tancredi and Angelica, during which Don Calogero frankly discusses Angelica’s substantial dowry, much to the Prince's dismay at the lack of aristocratic decorum.
In November 1860, Tancredi returns to Donnafugata with his friends Carlo Cavriaghi and Pietro Moroni, now officers in the Sardinian army. Cavriaghi expresses his affection for Concetta, who remains oblivious. Tancredi and Angelica spend their days exploring the palace, their love blossoming. Soon, Aimone Chevalet, from the new Italian government, visits the Prince to offer him a seat in the Senate. The Prince firmly declines, explaining that the Sicilian aristocracy was ignored during the unification process and cannot now be expected to lead it. He observes that Sicilians are resistant to change, noting the island's 'irremediable' landscape and character.
Part five focuses on Padre Pirrone, the family confessor, who visits his relatives in Sancon in 1861. He is tasked with resolving a family dispute involving his niece, Angelina, who became pregnant out of wedlock. Padre Pirrone successfully brokers a marriage between Angelina and Vincenzino, provided they receive half of a valuable almond grove, thereby mending a long-standing family feud. This episode illustrates the continued importance of family honor and pragmatic solutions in Sicilian society.
The central event of the novel, the ball at Palazzo Ponteleone in 1862, is described. After the initial turmoil of unification, the aristocracy reassesses its position. The Prince, understanding the Sedaras' social inexperience, arranges for them to be invited. Don Calogero arrives in an ill-fitting, ostentatious frac, while Angelica dazzles everyone with her beauty. The Prince dances a waltz with Angelica, a moment that is both graceful and poignant. During the ball, the Prince observes the superficiality of the changing times and reflects on the decline of his lineage, aware that the old order is passing, symbolised by the bombed-out Lampedusa palace.
The final part takes place in May 1910, focusing on the three unmarried Salina sisters: Carolina, Concetta, and Caterina. Their small chapel is filled with false relics, a sign of their clinging to outdated traditions. A monsignor inspects the relics and orders the removal of all but five authentic ones, along with the replacement of a sacrilegious painting. Concetta, still painfully remembering her unrequited love for Tancredi and resentment towards Angelica, finally orders the removal of Bendicò's remains, which she had preserved for 45 years. This act signifies the ultimate dissolution of the old aristocratic world into dust and oblivion.