Summary
Highlights
Svevo's first novel, 'Una vita', was published in 1892 at his own expense after being rejected by other publishers. Initially titled 'Un inetto', it introduces the concept of the 'inetto'—an insecure and incapable individual, a recurring figure in Svevo's work, including Alfonso Nitti, Emilio Brentani in 'Senilità', and Zeno Cosini in 'La coscienza di Zeno'. This character marks a shift from naturalism to psychological realism, a key theme in the video.
Alfonso Nitti, the protagonist, shares similarities with Svevo, working in a bank in Trieste. He is young, tall, and robust but exhibits weakness and uncertainty. He dislikes Trieste and his colleagues, who he perceives as arrogant and obsequious. Alfonso feels uncomfortable and out of place, yearning for his hometown and mother. His initial experiences at the bank and in the city highlight his feelings of alienation.
The narrative primarily unfolds in three settings: the Mahler bank, the Mahler family home, and Alfonso's native village. Alfonso is invited to the Mahler residence, where he meets the owner, Signor Mahler, and his daughter, Annetta. He also encounters Macario, Annetta's cousin, who is Alfonso's stark opposite—brilliant, vital, and decisive. Macario becomes Alfonso's friend, appreciating his docility, while Alfonso views him with a mix of admiration and resentment.
A pivotal scene involves a boat trip with Macario, where the metaphor of the cormorant (gabbiano) is introduced. Macario explains that some people are 'fighters' who act decisively (like the cormorant hunting), while others are 'contemplators' who fail to grasp life opportunities. Alfonso, identifying as a 'poetic idealist,' is categorized as a contemplator, unable to act effectively, reflecting Schopenhauer’s philosophy.
Annetta invites Alfonso to her literary salon, leading to their collaboration on a novel and a romantic relationship. Initially, Annetta is reserved, but Alfonso, encouraged by Francesa, seduces her. Despite a night of passion, Alfonso feels disillusioned and decides to leave Trieste, returning to his village. His retreat is prompted by his inability to fully embrace the relationship and his persistent sense of inadequacy.
Back in his village, Alfonso's mother falls ill and dies, and he contracts typhus, further deepening his despair. Upon returning to Trieste, he discovers that Macario and Annetta are engaged. The Landucci family, where Alfonso resided, also faces hardship, with Lucia abandoned and pregnant. Rejected by the Mahler family and challenged to a duel by Annetta's brother, Federico, Alfonso, an 'inetto' to the end, commits suicide, seeing it as a liberation from a life he cannot truly live.
The novel explores themes of social climbing, a common element in 'romanzi di formazione' (formation novels), and the influence of Darwinism and Schopenhauer's philosophy. Alfonso's struggle is interpreted through social Darwinism, where the 'fittest' (fighters like Macario) survive, and the 'contemplators' (like Alfonso) perish. Svevo's work also delves into the psychological complexities of the human mind, foreshadowing Freudian analysis, and marks a significant transition from naturalism to psychological narrative.