The Tigress in the Snow: Motherhood and Literature in Twentieth-Century Italy (Toronto Italian Studies)

__The Tigress in the Snow__ explores how literature reacted to, influenced, and shaped the evolving notion of motherhood in twentieth-century Italy. From the late-nineteenth century rhetorical celebration of the mother as Madonna, to the Fascist regime's demographic campaign and feminist revisions of the maternal role, Laura Benedetti shows how the mother's social status was a site of constant negotiation in Italy during the last century and how this negotiation came to be represented in literature. To illustrate her theme, she stresses both similarities and differences among four generations of women writers, as well as their complex interaction with their male counterparts, and their reactions to changes in Italian society. __The Tigress in the Snow__ highlights literature's role in the formation of cultural discourses right up to the dawn of the twenty-first century. An intriguing look at the changing nature of motherhood in a country that has always valued the maternal institution, this volume goes further to show how literature investigates, shapes, and envisions social models for the present and future. The Tigress In The Snow Explores How Literature Was Influenced By And Helped To Shape Notions Of Motherhood In Twentieth-century Italy. From Late-nineteenth Century Religious Iconography, To The Fascist Regime's Campaign To Boost Italy's Birthrate, To More Recent Feminist Challenges To Traditional Gender Roles, This Study Demonstrates That Concepts Of Motherhood And The Social Status Associated With Mothers Were Subject To Constant Negotiation. Examining How This Negotiation Came To Be Represented In Literature, Laura Benedetti Looks At Four Generations Of Women Writers, Stressing Their Similarities And Differences, As Well As Their Complex Interactions With Their Male Counterparts And Their Reactions To Changes In Italian Society. Drawing On Examples From A Wide Range Of Novels, Plays, Poems, And Short Stories As Well As From Critical And Public Debate, The Book Highlights Literature's Role In The Formation Of Cultural Discourses Up To The Dawn Of The Twenty-first Century. An Intriguing Look At The Changing Nature Of The Maternal Role In A Culture That Has Always Put Strong Emphasis On The Institution Of Motherhood, This Volume Goes Further To Show How Literature Investigates, Shapes, And Envisions Social Models For The Present And Future.--jacket. 1. Mothers At The Dawn Of The Twentieth Century -- New Mother -- From Mother To Daughter : Annie Vivanti's The Devourers -- Mother As Artist : Luigi Pirandello's Suo Marito -- Revolution Named Sibilla -- Self-sacrifice And Marian Imagery -- Invisible Working Woman -- 2. Resilience And Resistance : The Fascist Years -- From Benevolence To Dominance -- Literature And The Escape From History -- Mothers Without A Name And The Search For Women's Identity -- Mothers At War -- 'like War Is To Men' -- Future As A Revised Version Of The Past -- No Turning Back -- 3. Questioning Motherhood -- Slow Changes -- Tigress In The Snow -- 'una Maternita Sociale' : The Upheaval Of The 1970s -- Too Close, Too Far : Motherhood As A Dialogue With The Self -- 4. Struggling With The Mother -- Through The Daughters' Voices -- Mother And The City -- Daughter And Mother -- 5. Mothers Without Children -- From Flesh To Phantom -- Symbolic Order Of The Mother -- World Of Mothers. Laura Benedetti. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Includes Some Text In Italian.