The Snake in Various Italian Literary Works

Running head: THE SNAKE IN VARIOUS ITALIAN LITERARY WORKS
THE SNAKE IN VARIOUS ITALIAN LITERARY WORKS
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Contents TOC \o "1-3" \h \z \u Abstract PAGEREF _Toc309478171 \h 2The Snake in Various Italian Literary Works PAGEREF _Toc309478172 \h 3References PAGEREF _Toc309478173 \h 7Appendix PAGEREF _Toc309478174 \h 9Appendix 1: Clésinger Auguste`s "woman bitten by a snake" PAGEREF _Toc309478175 \h 9Appendix 2: Guido Mocafico artwork of snakes PAGEREF _Toc309478176 \h 9
Abstract
Snakes have been used in ancient Italy as a symbol of communication. Contemporary and modern historians, philosophers, artists and writers make use of the snake to pass messages depending on the cultural and social context. This research explores writers like Armanda Guiducci in "the Apple and the Snake", Giovanni Francesco in "Biancabella & the Snake" and Carlo Gozzi`s play "The Snake Woman" and the art work of artists like Clésinger Auguste and Guido Mocafico reveal snake images. These literary works have provided an understanding of Italian culture, norms, values and religion as symbolized by the snake. The use of the snake in religion and social context, reveal Italian philosophical views, where religious dogmas surrounding the snake as an evil and vile animal exist. In the end, it was revealed that to Italians, the snake is an indication of death, oppression of women, and the superiority of men in the society.
The Snake in Various Italian Literary Works
People have always had a fascination with the world around them and for this reason, have incorporated plants and animals in literary works. Literary works area means of communication for humans, in which words and symbols come into play. Symbols have been used from history to convey messages, with modifications and variations emerging at different times to offer meaning according the social and cultural context at the time (Wick, 2005). Of interest are the snake symbols used in society. Italian literature, philosophies, art, history and the sciences have representations of the snake. The interest of this research paper, are those historical, philosophical, artistic, literary and scientific works of the late 1800s to the end of the 1900s that depict the "snake".
Italian literature and writers have incorporated the snake in various works. For example, the writer, poet and literary critic Guiducci Armanda used the snake in her work "la mela e il serpent" in 1974 translated as "the Apple and the Snake". In this piece of work, this work rhetorically uses the snake to represent the internalization of women, and their marginal status in the society as a result of biology. To this writer, women`s social status is exhibited by fertility often symbolized by menstrual flow (Healey 2011). The snake here represents the superiority of men over women. Another literary work with representation of the snake is Giovanni Francesco`s fairy tale "Biancabella & the Snake" in "The Facetious Night Straparola". This is tale with the riddle of a young lady Biancabella and her encounter with a snake, from birth to married life (Heiner 2007).
Italian plays have also made use of the snake, for example Carlo Gozzi`s play "The Snake Woman" that has been performed and directed by various theaters across the world. In 1988, the play director Andrei Serban directed Gozzi`s play as "The Serpent Woman" in the U.S. (Gussow 2001). The play is a tale that shows the connection between humans, animals and divinities as prince pursues his ideal love. The object of his admiration is unfortunately turned from a dove, to a princess and to a serpent. The snake as was used in this play was a symbol to represent the woman`s personality and depict her as a witch (Gussow 2001). The play`s point is to humor in the audience and they are driven through the various cycles the lady has to go through and as the prince passes through each trial.
The snake has also been used in the late 1900 by Italian film makers. For example, the epic story written by the Italian Canadian author Ricci Nino. The story is based on the Italian proverb "where pride is, the snake goes". The story is an epic journey of Vittorio Innocente growing up in a village called Valle de Sole, where he experiences adultery, evil eyes and is beaten by a snake. The world of film also shows Italian philosophy on the snake. "The Snake has a face" is an Emmanuel Levinas production, depicting the Italians ethical philosophy. Through the use of non-human animals the producer offers an extension into the anthropocentric and close encounter with nature (McMullan, 2011). Through the use of scenes of animals suffering death, like the snake writhing vigorously as it died, the producer offers a clear picture into the close encounter we have with raw nature. This mode of vivid depiction of death is very common among Italians since the renaissance age or the era of reforms. While it may offend many cultures, levinas represents contemporary art, th...