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Autor:

Aron Ettore Schmitz

Country:

Italy (IT)

Book Theme:

Classic novels and Authors representing your country culture

Publisher:

Feltrinelli

Publishing Year:

2022

The novel begins with a preface written by Doctor S., the fictional psychoanalyst of Zeno Cosini, the main character. The doctor, frustrated because Zeno suddenly stopped the therapy, decides to publish the memoirs that Zeno wrote as part of the treatment. This creates a narrative ambiguity: the reader is invited to doubt the truth of the story, which is dominated by Zeno’s irony and subjectivity. The reading guide shows how this beginning questions the reliability of autobiographical narration.Zeno talks about his obsession with cigarettes. He remembers smoking for the first time as a child, trying to imitate adults. He tries many times to stop smoking but always fails. At one point, he makes a bet with a friend to see who can stop for longer, but he loses. Later, he goes to a health clinic to stop smoking, where he meets Giovanna, a nurse. He starts to feel paranoid, thinking Giovanna and the doctor are talking about him and planning something. He leaves the clinic, and as soon as he is outside, he smokes again. This shows how Zeno repeats his mistakes.Zeno speaks about the difficult relationship with his father. His father is strict and distant. In the last days of his father’s life, Zeno tries to help, but their communication is poor. At one moment, his dying father hits him with a slap, which Zeno interprets as a final punishment. This event makes him feel guilty and becomes a symbol of unresolved feelings between father and son.Zeno talks about how he married Augusta. He first falls in love with Ada, the most beautiful daughter of his guardian, but she rejects him. Then he tries with Alberta and finally with Augusta, who accepts. Even if he thinks Augusta is not attractive, she becomes his best support. Meanwhile, Ada marries Guido, another man. Zeno continues to think about Ada, but Augusta is the one who really loves him.Although married, Zeno starts an affair with Carla, a young singer. He meets her through an advertisement and pretends to be her sponsor. The relationship becomes complicated, and Zeno starts to fear that Augusta will find out. He tries to leave Carla, but fails. Eventually, Carla decides to marry someone else, and Zeno feels relieved. This story shows how Zeno is weak in love and cannot manage his emotions well.Zeno starts a business with Guido Speier, the husband of Ada. Guido is charming but irresponsible. They open a company, but it does not go well. Guido tries risky financial actions and eventually pretends to attempt suicide to gain sympathy. However, he dies accidentally. Zeno realizes that he never really understood business and that the world of work is full of lies and illusions.In the last chapter, Zeno talks about his experience with psychoanalysis. He begins therapy hoping to be cured, but he soon thinks that talking about his past does not help him. He stops the therapy and says that only life can heal people. In the end, he imagines the destruction of the world by a new human disease. This is a symbol of how modern life and technology can be dangerous if humans do not understand themselves.Zeno’s Conscience is a novel that breaks traditional storytelling. It uses irony and psychology to talk about the modern human condition. Zeno is a character who often lies to himself and struggles to understand life. The book is a deep and ironic reflection on memory, weakness, and the search for meaning. Mario Lunetta’s edition helps the reader understand the many layers and modern style of this important novel.