Moscarda seems to be getting out of his ‘head’ and into his feelings more. Maybe this is his psyche trying desperately to reconnect with his physical body - when you’re angry your body gets involved - pounding heart, Adrenalin, blood pressure etc. First with the poor dog and then with his defenceless wife he has lashed out in anger. I read that there is research that indicates that men and women perceive and express anger differently. While women see loss of temper as a loss of control, men see it as a way of asserting control over others. And I think that is what M is trying to do perhaps - reintegrate with his body and control the thoughts and behaviours of those around him. I think his wife should stay at her dad’s!
I do wonder about what Pirandello's worldview would translate into in the modern day. A lot of the questions he poses have been explored by science and psychology, e.g. the need humans have for companionship or spirituality, or the link between certain physical reactions and the amigdala/various hormones. The way men and women are both wired and taught to deal with emotions is another big one.
Thank you for the article—it has been invaluable for my reading and reflection, Ellie. And Magritte's paintings continue to bring joy with each viewing.
At the end of the previous part, I thought everything was progressing toward improvement and the "reassembly" of Moscarda's personality into a unified whole. But I was mistaken. The concept shifted entirely—rather than Moscarda going mad, he revealed the madness of the world around him. The behavior of the bank employees and his father-in-law lacks rationality. While Moscarda's actions, setting aside his internal motivations and dialogues, weren't particularly insane, the world around him simply couldn't accept his deviation from expected behavior. They treated him as if he were a robot programmed to follow a predictable behavioral model for life. Many people live this way, and it reflects how the state views its citizens—everyone must be predictable and uniform.
In this part, I take issue with only one thing—his characterization of his wife as a doll. Although she saw him differently from how he saw himself, she appears to have been a good person. What's notably absent from this story is an honest conversation, rather than mere role-playing. Moscarda hasn't yet realized that a sincere, open dialogue with someone close to him might be exactly what could save him from this endless fragmentation of self.
The artwork has been marvelous on journey. Perfect.
Moscarda seems to be getting out of his ‘head’ and into his feelings more. Maybe this is his psyche trying desperately to reconnect with his physical body - when you’re angry your body gets involved - pounding heart, Adrenalin, blood pressure etc. First with the poor dog and then with his defenceless wife he has lashed out in anger. I read that there is research that indicates that men and women perceive and express anger differently. While women see loss of temper as a loss of control, men see it as a way of asserting control over others. And I think that is what M is trying to do perhaps - reintegrate with his body and control the thoughts and behaviours of those around him. I think his wife should stay at her dad’s!
I do wonder about what Pirandello's worldview would translate into in the modern day. A lot of the questions he poses have been explored by science and psychology, e.g. the need humans have for companionship or spirituality, or the link between certain physical reactions and the amigdala/various hormones. The way men and women are both wired and taught to deal with emotions is another big one.
Thank you for the article—it has been invaluable for my reading and reflection, Ellie. And Magritte's paintings continue to bring joy with each viewing.
At the end of the previous part, I thought everything was progressing toward improvement and the "reassembly" of Moscarda's personality into a unified whole. But I was mistaken. The concept shifted entirely—rather than Moscarda going mad, he revealed the madness of the world around him. The behavior of the bank employees and his father-in-law lacks rationality. While Moscarda's actions, setting aside his internal motivations and dialogues, weren't particularly insane, the world around him simply couldn't accept his deviation from expected behavior. They treated him as if he were a robot programmed to follow a predictable behavioral model for life. Many people live this way, and it reflects how the state views its citizens—everyone must be predictable and uniform.
In this part, I take issue with only one thing—his characterization of his wife as a doll. Although she saw him differently from how he saw himself, she appears to have been a good person. What's notably absent from this story is an honest conversation, rather than mere role-playing. Moscarda hasn't yet realized that a sincere, open dialogue with someone close to him might be exactly what could save him from this endless fragmentation of self.