Summary of "Vanina Vanini" by Stendhal

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

Stendhal is one of the pseudonyms of the famous French writer Marie-Henri Beyle. He is considered one of the founders of the realistic psychological novel. The short story "Vanina Vanini" was written by the author in 1829. This is another appeal of Stendhal to his favorite Italian theme.

If we consider the summary of "Vanina Vanini", then the novel was based on the love story of an Italian girl belonging to high society, and a young revolutionary who escaped from prison, fighting for the freedom of his native country. Life circumstances put the young man before a choice: love for a woman or duty to the Motherland. What will be his choice, you can find out by reading the summary of the book Vanini Vanini.

Action tie

The action begins with a ball, which was organized by one duke in a beautifulspring evening. Considering the summary of "Vanina Vanini" chapter by chapter, it is obvious that the author from the very beginning draws the reader's attention to the main character. This is the daughter of Prince Azdrubale Vanini, a beautiful Italian girl. Her father had long been angry with her for rejecting the advances of the most promising and successful suitors. At this ball she was named the most beautiful. Throughout the evening, a young prince named Livio Savelli courted the girl. However, she ignored his attention.

News was announced at the ball: a young Carbonari escaped from the fortress where the prisoners were kept.

Introducing the main characters

Vanina Vanini's summary continues with the next morning's events. The girl drew attention to the fact that her father was locking the door leading to the rooms on the fourth floor with windows on the terrace. Vanina secretly sneaks in there and finds a wounded woman in one of the rooms. In an effort to help a stranger, the girl forces her to reveal her deception. It turned out that under the name of Clementine hides the fugitive Carbonari Pietro Missirili. Despite the danger of the situation, Vanina calls the family doctor, who helps to heal the wounded man.

Development of the relationship of heroes

The girl realizes that she has fallen in love. Worried that her feelings would not be shared by the young man, Vanina once confessed her love to him. However, Pietro also fell in love with the girl. They share a mutual passion.

After a few months, the young man makes a full recovery. The girl offers himget married, but the carbonari refuses, obsessed with revenge for himself and the struggle for the Motherland. The young man explains to his beloved that he does not belong to himself, and his life is subordinated to the struggle for the freedom and happiness of his native country. Without losing hope that they can reunite, Vanina follows her lover to Romagna.

Conspiracy Story

Summary of "Vanina Vanini" takes the reader to Romagna.

Here at the Venta meeting, Pietro is elected leader of the Carbonari society. The girl helps her fiancé by giving money to buy weapons. Having become a revolutionary leader, Pietro enthusiastically prepares a conspiracy, gradually moving away from Vanina. All his thoughts and aspirations are focused on the successful implementation of the plans of the rebels.

The girl bitterly begins to understand that for her lover, his struggle is much more important than their feelings. Her desire to keep her fiancé near her is so strong that she decides to betray the conspirators, having previously asked Pietro to leave the city for this time. Upon his return, the young man learns about the disclosure of the conspiracy. He strives with all his heart to share the fate of his comrades-in-arms, so he voluntarily surrenders to the authorities.

Vanina's marriage

Summary of "Vanina Vanini" continues with the story of the girl's father, who, meanwhile, is negotiating with Prince Livio Savelli about a marriage alliance with his daughter. The girl unexpectedly agrees. No one guesses that the reason for her consent to this marriage is the family ties of the future husband withPolice Minister Catanzar. With his help, the girl hopes to achieve the release of her beloved Pietro.

Abolition of the death sentence

She soon learns that the Carbonari's imprisonment has been commuted to the death pen alty. At night, Vanina enters Catanzar's house. By all possible means, the girl persuades him to cancel the death sentence.

Pietro must be transferred from one fortress to another. Vanina, using all her abilities, organizes a date with her beloved.

Payback for betrayal

A young man at a meeting immediately makes it clear to the girl that she is free from all her obligations, since he devotes his life only to his native Italy. The girl is in despair. She tells him of her efforts in freeing him. As proof of her love, she tells him about how she betrayed the conspiracy he was preparing. Enraged, Pietro rushes at her to avenge her betrayal. However, the convoy prevented this. Vanina, desperate and humiliated, returns home to Rome.

Afterword

According to reviews, "Vanina Vanini", a summary of which is presented in the article, carries a tragic denouement. The conflict of two strong characters, two passions of different directions lies at the heart of the work. The heroes of the novel find themselves in difficult life circumstances, showing two opposite sides of the Italian character: an all-consuming love passion and endless love for the Motherland.

Screening of the novel

ShortThe content of Stendhal's Vanina Vanini was used by director Roberto Rossellini in the 1961 film of the same name. This film competed at the Venice Film Festival.