Alterity and Identity in Italian Literature: Encountering the Other from Dante to the Present

In our modern era of hyperconnectivity, the intricacies of our interpersonal relationships wield a profound influence on our sense of self. Throughout history, Italian literature has served as a rich tapestry reflecting these dynamics, offering poignant glimpses into the interplay of identity, belonging, and the concept of the Other. Alterity and Identity in Italian Literature: Encountering the Other from Dante to the Present embarks on a journey spanning from the Middle Ages to contemporary times, traversing the diverse landscapes of Italian literary tradition. Through a nuanced diachronic lens, this volume explores how Italian authors across centuries have grappled with encounters with the Other. Each essay provides a unique perspective on the dynamic interplay between the Self and the Other through close readings of pivotal texts, including but not limited to Boccaccio’s Decameron, Tasso’s Jerusalem Delivered, Gadda’s Acquainted with Grief, and Ferrante’s Neapolitan Novels. From the grand epics of medieval Italy to the nuanced narratives of modern novels, this volume unveils the ways in which Italian literature serves as a mirror reflecting the complexities of human experience. It invites readers to immerse themselves in the timeless echoes of alterity that resonate throughout Italian literary history, offering profound insights into the enduring quest for understanding and identity. Cover Half Title Title Page Copyright Page Contents Foreword Introduction Chapter 1: Double Fortunes, Double Faces: De Remediis’s Structure of Alterity Chapter 2: Mediterranean Clashes: Interreligious Encounters in the Decameron Chapter 3: Lunar Otherness: Astolfo, Medoro, and the Moon in the Furioso Chapter 4: Teofilo Folengo and His Antiquities: The Role of the Generative Metaphor Chapter 5: Shifted Identities and Encounters with the Other in Gerusalemme Liberata XII Chapter 6: But Are They in Reality the Same People?: The Molecular Transformation of Personality in Antonio Gramsci’s Letters from Prison Chapter 7: Alterity and War: Women in the Italian Resistance Chapter 8: The Sclerotic Dialectic: Reading Gadda’s La cognizione del dolore through Hegel Chapter 9: Identity and Alterity in Elena Ferrante’s Neapolitan Novels Index About the Contributors