Premium Essay

War by Luigi Pirandello

In:

Submitted By tristan82t
Words 2223
Pages 9
War by Luigi Pirandello
Biography: Luigi Pirandello, born in Sicily, Italy in 1867, was one of Italy's most famous playwrights and modern authors. He became interested in literature at a very young age and wrote his first play at the age of twelve. His father, however, enrolled him in a technical school but that changed almost instantly as he transferred to an academic secondary school to study oratory and literature. He did agree to marry his father's business partners' daughter, Antoinetta Portulano. He then earned his doctorate in Romance literature, married, and moved to Rome, where he began publishing his short stories and poems. In 1903, Pirandello suffered a terribly financial devastation as his family's sulfur mine was destroyed. Antoinetta suffered a mental breakdown and was institutionalized after battling mental illness for years. He then immersed himself in his writing to free from his troubles. Later on, he invented "grotesco", a form of theatrical expressionism that sacrifices realism in order to portray psychological experience. In his lifetime, many of Pirandello's works were considered controversial. His work is known for its atmosphere of mystery and tension, along with the questions he raises about the "fictions we create for ourselves". In 1934, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature. Luigi Pirandello's works are still strongly influencing playwrights and writers who explore life's ironies and paradoxes.

Summary: "War" by Luigi Pirandello is a short story about a couple whose son has been sent to war. They board a train to leave Rome, the departure spot for their sons and young men going off to war. The wife felt she was the only mother who grieved about her son leaving. All the passengers on this train have one or more loved ones on the front in the war. This couple, who boards the train last, has their one and only son in war. The

Similar Documents

Premium Essay

Comparing Pirandello's War And Dulce Et Decorum Est

...patriotically fought before them. In Luigi Pirandello’s War and Wilfred Owen’s Dulce et Decorum Est, they criticize society’s use of patriotism as a means to manipulate people into suffering in service of their country. The author’s take different approaches to conveying this message, resulting in the texts having different tones. Patriotism as a rationale may convince a person to do something, but it is not enough...

Words: 1069 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Second World Wa

...waWar essay In every war there have always been families left at home and fearing for their loved one lives. These two texts “WAR” a story by Luigi Pirandello and Soldiers' families call for pullout from 'unwinnable' war in Afghanistan by Matthew Taylor, the different ways addresses families and friends deal with the loss of their deployed sons, brothers, uncles, etc… The two texts belong to different genres and are written in different historical epochs. “War” is a short story and fiction and is written in the year 1934. “Soldiers'…” is an article written in 2010. In the analysis and in comparing you need to be aware of the different genres and positions. For example the time and the reasons for war in the two texts have a big impact on people's attitudes and reactions. In the article the message obvious and has a political purpose. In “WAR” Luigi Pirandello has sympathy with all the families who have seen a loved one go to war and tries in this text to give examples of how people are dealing with their problem in different ways. He seems neutral in his way of describing the different characters’ reactions and it means that you as the reader are freer to form your own opinion and interpretations. The two main characters, the fat man and the woman have different ways to handle the grief. The fat man has lost his son to the war, but doesn’t feel the same kind of sorrow like the other people. He is not really sad for his son’s death, but is very proud because his son died...

Words: 845 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

The Comparison of Human Nature and Suffering.

...The comparison of human nature and suffering. “Parental love is not like bread that can be broken into pieces and split amongst the children in equal share. A father gives all his love to each one of his children without discrimination, whether it be one or ten. And if I am suffering now for my two sons, I am not suffering half for each of them but double” (93, paragraph 10). In the stories “The Necklace” and “War” some similarities in theme were suffering, human nature, and how one deals with suffering, in plot and characterization. Both authors went to great lengths to bring these characters to life by allowing each of them to openly display their emotions. This kind of open expression allows the reader to effectively analyze the nature of each character. Suffering is universal so we all suffer, albeit in different ways. These characters are no exception, they are all suffering in some way or another, the only difference is the cause of their suffering. In the case of Mathilde in the Necklace, Maupassant portray her as someone lacking all the finer things in life; hence her source of suffering. This character is enduring what could be considered self-inflicted suffering. Her constant need for validation is what makes suffer the most “she burned...

Words: 966 - Pages: 4

Free Essay

Guaped Up

...University of Phoenix Material Effects of Mass Media Worksheet Write brief 250-to 300-word answers to each of the following: |Questions |Answers | |What were the major developments in the |In the 21st century, rabid fans could turn their attention to a whole swath of pop stars | |evolution of mass media during the 20th |in | |century? |the making when the reality TV program American Idolhit the airwaves in 2002. The show was| | | | | |the only television program ever to have snagged the top spot in the Nielsen ratings for | | |six | | |seasons in a row, often averaging more than 30 million nightly viewers. Rival television | | |network | | |executives were alarmed, deeming the pop giant “the ultimate schoolyard bully,” “the Death| | ...

Words: 3020 - Pages: 13

Premium Essay

Exist

...Meaning and Existentialism in My Life - Existentialism is a phiosophy which revolves around the central belief that we create ourselves. External factors are not important. It is the way that we let external factors affect us that determines who we are. As individuals we all have the freedom to choose our own path and that is what life is all about. Along with the freedom of choice comes the responsibilty of one's actions which can make some people anxious but give others meaning to their lives. To overcome this anxiousness and accept responsibilty is to meet the challenges of life and to truly live it.... [tags: Existentialism, ] 675 words (1.9 pages) $14.95 [preview] Understanding Existentialism - Do we matter. Do we seek personal happiness in life. These are questions from existentialism. The dictionary defines existentialism as an individual’s experience filled with isolation in a hostile universe where a human being attempts to find true self and the meaning of life through free will, choice, and personal responsibility. Hamlet is an existentialist character who believes that he is forced to avenge his father’s death and the hatred builds in his heart because of the many betrayals which direct him towards a senseless life and constant thoughts about suicide; this ultimately leads to his demise and he is left with naught.... [tags: Existentialism] 872 words (2.5 pages) $14.95 [preview] Life Value vs. Existentialism in Grendel - A main theme in John Gardner’s Grendel...

Words: 3737 - Pages: 15

Free Essay

Test2

...62118 0/nm 1/n1 2/nm 3/nm 4/nm 5/nm 6/nm 7/nm 8/nm 9/nm 1990s 0th/pt 1st/p 1th/tc 2nd/p 2th/tc 3rd/p 3th/tc 4th/pt 5th/pt 6th/pt 7th/pt 8th/pt 9th/pt 0s/pt a A AA AAA Aachen/M aardvark/SM Aaren/M Aarhus/M Aarika/M Aaron/M AB aback abacus/SM abaft Abagael/M Abagail/M abalone/SM abandoner/M abandon/LGDRS abandonment/SM abase/LGDSR abasement/S abaser/M abashed/UY abashment/MS abash/SDLG abate/DSRLG abated/U abatement/MS abater/M abattoir/SM Abba/M Abbe/M abbé/S abbess/SM Abbey/M abbey/MS Abbie/M Abbi/M Abbot/M abbot/MS Abbott/M abbr abbrev abbreviated/UA abbreviates/A abbreviate/XDSNG abbreviating/A abbreviation/M Abbye/M Abby/M ABC/M Abdel/M abdicate/NGDSX abdication/M abdomen/SM abdominal/YS abduct/DGS abduction/SM abductor/SM Abdul/M ab/DY abeam Abelard/M Abel/M Abelson/M Abe/M Aberdeen/M Abernathy/M aberrant/YS aberrational aberration/SM abet/S abetted abetting abettor/SM Abeu/M abeyance/MS abeyant Abey/M abhorred abhorrence/MS abhorrent/Y abhorrer/M abhorring abhor/S abidance/MS abide/JGSR abider/M abiding/Y Abidjan/M Abie/M Abigael/M Abigail/M Abigale/M Abilene/M ability/IMES abjection/MS abjectness/SM abject/SGPDY abjuration/SM abjuratory abjurer/M abjure/ZGSRD ablate/VGNSDX ablation/M ablative/SY ablaze abler/E ables/E ablest able/U abloom ablution/MS Ab/M ABM/S abnegate/NGSDX abnegation/M Abner/M abnormality/SM abnormal/SY aboard ...

Words: 113589 - Pages: 455