Aracoeli (1982) was the last novel written by Elsa Morante (1912-85), one of the most significant Italian writers of the twentieth century. The journey, both geographical and memorial, of a homosexual son in search of his dead mother is a first-person narrative that has puzzled many critics for its darkness and despair. By combining scholars from different disciplines and cultural traditions, this volume re-evaluates the aesthetic and theoretical complexity of Morante's novel and argues that it engages with crucial philosophical and epistemological questions in an original and profound way. Contributors explore the manifold tensions staged by the novel in connection with contemporary philosophical discourse (from feminist/queer to political theory to psycho-analysis) and authors (such as Emilio Gadda, Pier Paolo Pasolini and Pedro Almodovar). The Power of Disturbance shows that by creating a 'hallucinatory' representation of the relationship between mother and child, Aracoeli questions the classical distinction between subject and object, and proposes an altogether new and subversive kind of writing.
Manuele Gragnolati is Reader in Italian Literature at the University of Oxford and Fellow of Somerville College. Sara Fortuna teaches philosophy of language at the Università Guglielmo Marconi in Rome.
Reviews:
‘The chapters avail themselves of the entire arc of twentieth-century theories and models of subjectivity and sexuality, to try to unravel Manuele's search for freedom from his all-consuming passion for his mother Aracoeli, and include Freud, Jung, Klein, Bowlby, Stern, Sander, Winnicott, Laplanche and Pontalis, Kristeva, Lacan, Cavarero, Muraro, Silverman, (Jessica) Benjamin, and Butler. These theories serve the novel very well, illuminating the many strands and aspects of Manuele's 'condition' and of the novel... An invaluable teaching tool and thus an incentive to include Aracoeli in advanced university courses in Italian and European literature.’ — Adalgisa Giorgio, Italian Studies 66.1, March 2011, 144-46
Fortuna, Sara, and Gragnolati, Manuele, introduction to , in The Power of Disturbance: Elsa Morante's Aracoeli, ed. by Sara Fortuna and Manuele Gragnolati (Cambridge: Legenda, 2009), pp. 1–7
First footnote reference:35 Sara Fortuna, Manuele Gragnolati, introduction to , in The Power of Disturbance: Elsa Morante's Aracoeli, ed. by Sara Fortuna and Manuele Gragnolati (Cambridge: Legenda, 2009), pp. 1–7, p. 21.
Subsequent footnote reference:37 Fortuna and Gragnolati, p. 47.
Fortuna, Sara, and Gragnolati, Manuele. 2009. Introduction to , in The Power of Disturbance: Elsa Morante's Aracoeli, ed. by Sara Fortuna and Manuele Gragnolati (Cambridge: Legenda), pp. 1–7
Example citation: ‘A quotation occurring on page 21 of this work’ (Fortuna and Gragnolati 2009: 21).
Example footnote reference:35 Fortuna and Gragnolati 2009: 21.
Fortuna, Sara, and Gragnolati, Manuele, ‘Between Affection and Discipline: Exploring Linguistic Tensions from Dante to Aracoeli’, in The Power of Disturbance: Elsa Morante's Aracoeli, ed. by Sara Fortuna and Manuele Gragnolati (Cambridge: Legenda, 2009), pp. 8–19
First footnote reference:35 Sara Fortuna, Manuele Gragnolati, ‘Between Affection and Discipline: Exploring Linguistic Tensions from Dante to Aracoeli’, in The Power of Disturbance: Elsa Morante's Aracoeli, ed. by Sara Fortuna and Manuele Gragnolati (Cambridge: Legenda, 2009), pp. 8–19, p. 21.
Subsequent footnote reference:37 Fortuna and Gragnolati, p. 47.
Fortuna, Sara, and Gragnolati, Manuele. 2009. ‘Between Affection and Discipline: Exploring Linguistic Tensions from Dante to Aracoeli’, in The Power of Disturbance: Elsa Morante's Aracoeli, ed. by Sara Fortuna and Manuele Gragnolati (Cambridge: Legenda), pp. 8–19
Example citation: ‘A quotation occurring on page 21 of this work’ (Fortuna and Gragnolati 2009: 21).
Example footnote reference:35 Fortuna and Gragnolati 2009: 21.
West, Rebecca, ‘Seeing and Telling: Anamorphosis, Relational Identity, and Other Perspectival Perplexities in Aracoeli’, in The Power of Disturbance: Elsa Morante's Aracoeli, ed. by Sara Fortuna and Manuele Gragnolati (Cambridge: Legenda, 2009), pp. 20–29
First footnote reference:35 Rebecca West, ‘Seeing and Telling: Anamorphosis, Relational Identity, and Other Perspectival Perplexities in Aracoeli’, in The Power of Disturbance: Elsa Morante's Aracoeli, ed. by Sara Fortuna and Manuele Gragnolati (Cambridge: Legenda, 2009), pp. 20–29, p. 21.
West, Rebecca. 2009. ‘Seeing and Telling: Anamorphosis, Relational Identity, and Other Perspectival Perplexities in Aracoeli’, in The Power of Disturbance: Elsa Morante's Aracoeli, ed. by Sara Fortuna and Manuele Gragnolati (Cambridge: Legenda), pp. 20–29
Example citation: ‘A quotation occurring on page 21 of this work’ (West 2009: 21).
Mussgnug, Florian, ‘Resisting Paranoia: Poesis and Politics in Aracoeli’, in The Power of Disturbance: Elsa Morante's Aracoeli, ed. by Sara Fortuna and Manuele Gragnolati (Cambridge: Legenda, 2009), pp. 30–41
First footnote reference:35 Florian Mussgnug, ‘Resisting Paranoia: Poesis and Politics in Aracoeli’, in The Power of Disturbance: Elsa Morante's Aracoeli, ed. by Sara Fortuna and Manuele Gragnolati (Cambridge: Legenda, 2009), pp. 30–41, p. 21.
Mussgnug, Florian. 2009. ‘Resisting Paranoia: Poesis and Politics in Aracoeli’, in The Power of Disturbance: Elsa Morante's Aracoeli, ed. by Sara Fortuna and Manuele Gragnolati (Cambridge: Legenda), pp. 30–41
Example citation: ‘A quotation occurring on page 21 of this work’ (Mussgnug 2009: 21).
Holzhey, Christoph F. E., ‘“The Lover of a Hybrid”: Memory and Fantasy in Aracoeli’, in The Power of Disturbance: Elsa Morante's Aracoeli, ed. by Sara Fortuna and Manuele Gragnolati (Cambridge: Legenda, 2009), pp. 42–58
First footnote reference:35 Christoph F. E. Holzhey, ‘“The Lover of a Hybrid”: Memory and Fantasy in Aracoeli’, in The Power of Disturbance: Elsa Morante's Aracoeli, ed. by Sara Fortuna and Manuele Gragnolati (Cambridge: Legenda, 2009), pp. 42–58, p. 21.
Holzhey, Christoph F. E.. 2009. ‘“The Lover of a Hybrid”: Memory and Fantasy in Aracoeli’, in The Power of Disturbance: Elsa Morante's Aracoeli, ed. by Sara Fortuna and Manuele Gragnolati (Cambridge: Legenda), pp. 42–58
Example citation: ‘A quotation occurring on page 21 of this work’ (Holzhey 2009: 21).
Lingiardi, Vittorio, ‘Scene madri: Psychoanalytic Visions from Aracoeli to Volver’, in The Power of Disturbance: Elsa Morante's Aracoeli, ed. by Sara Fortuna and Manuele Gragnolati (Cambridge: Legenda, 2009), pp. 59–72
First footnote reference:35 Vittorio Lingiardi, ‘Scene madri: Psychoanalytic Visions from Aracoeli to Volver’, in The Power of Disturbance: Elsa Morante's Aracoeli, ed. by Sara Fortuna and Manuele Gragnolati (Cambridge: Legenda, 2009), pp. 59–72, p. 21.
Subsequent footnote reference:37 Lingiardi, p. 47.
Lingiardi, Vittorio. 2009. ‘Scene madri: Psychoanalytic Visions from Aracoeli to Volver’, in The Power of Disturbance: Elsa Morante's Aracoeli, ed. by Sara Fortuna and Manuele Gragnolati (Cambridge: Legenda), pp. 59–72
Example citation: ‘A quotation occurring on page 21 of this work’ (Lingiardi 2009: 21).
Deuber-Mankowsky, Astrid, ‘Baubo — Another and Additional Name of Aracoeli: Morante’s Queer Feminism’, in The Power of Disturbance: Elsa Morante's Aracoeli, ed. by Sara Fortuna and Manuele Gragnolati (Cambridge: Legenda, 2009), pp. 73–85
First footnote reference:35 Astrid Deuber-Mankowsky, ‘Baubo — Another and Additional Name of Aracoeli: Morante’s Queer Feminism’, in The Power of Disturbance: Elsa Morante's Aracoeli, ed. by Sara Fortuna and Manuele Gragnolati (Cambridge: Legenda, 2009), pp. 73–85, p. 21.
Subsequent footnote reference:37 Deuber-Mankowsky, p. 47.
Deuber-Mankowsky, Astrid. 2009. ‘Baubo — Another and Additional Name of Aracoeli: Morante’s Queer Feminism’, in The Power of Disturbance: Elsa Morante's Aracoeli, ed. by Sara Fortuna and Manuele Gragnolati (Cambridge: Legenda), pp. 73–85
Example citation: ‘A quotation occurring on page 21 of this work’ (Deuber-Mankowsky 2009: 21).
Example footnote reference:35 Deuber-Mankowsky 2009: 21.
Grieco, Agnese, ‘Staging the Passion of Aracoeli’, in The Power of Disturbance: Elsa Morante's Aracoeli, ed. by Sara Fortuna and Manuele Gragnolati (Cambridge: Legenda, 2009), pp. 86–95
First footnote reference:35 Agnese Grieco, ‘Staging the Passion of Aracoeli’, in The Power of Disturbance: Elsa Morante's Aracoeli, ed. by Sara Fortuna and Manuele Gragnolati (Cambridge: Legenda, 2009), pp. 86–95, p. 21.
Grieco, Agnese. 2009. ‘Staging the Passion of Aracoeli’, in The Power of Disturbance: Elsa Morante's Aracoeli, ed. by Sara Fortuna and Manuele Gragnolati (Cambridge: Legenda), pp. 86–95
Example citation: ‘A quotation occurring on page 21 of this work’ (Grieco 2009: 21).
Stellardi, Giuseppe, ‘Aracoeli and Gadda’s La cognizione del dolore: Disturbed Sons, Disturbing Mothers’, in The Power of Disturbance: Elsa Morante's Aracoeli, ed. by Sara Fortuna and Manuele Gragnolati (Cambridge: Legenda, 2009), pp. 96–106
First footnote reference:35 Giuseppe Stellardi, ‘Aracoeli and Gadda’s La cognizione del dolore: Disturbed Sons, Disturbing Mothers’, in The Power of Disturbance: Elsa Morante's Aracoeli, ed. by Sara Fortuna and Manuele Gragnolati (Cambridge: Legenda, 2009), pp. 96–106, p. 21.
Subsequent footnote reference:37 Stellardi, p. 47.
Stellardi, Giuseppe. 2009. ‘Aracoeli and Gadda’s La cognizione del dolore: Disturbed Sons, Disturbing Mothers’, in The Power of Disturbance: Elsa Morante's Aracoeli, ed. by Sara Fortuna and Manuele Gragnolati (Cambridge: Legenda), pp. 96–106
Example citation: ‘A quotation occurring on page 21 of this work’ (Stellardi 2009: 21).
Cadel, Francesca, ‘Politics and Sexuality in Pasolini’s Petrolio’, in The Power of Disturbance: Elsa Morante's Aracoeli, ed. by Sara Fortuna and Manuele Gragnolati (Cambridge: Legenda, 2009), pp. 107–17
First footnote reference:35 Francesca Cadel, ‘Politics and Sexuality in Pasolini’s Petrolio’, in The Power of Disturbance: Elsa Morante's Aracoeli, ed. by Sara Fortuna and Manuele Gragnolati (Cambridge: Legenda, 2009), pp. 107–17, p. 21.
Cadel, Francesca. 2009. ‘Politics and Sexuality in Pasolini’s Petrolio’, in The Power of Disturbance: Elsa Morante's Aracoeli, ed. by Sara Fortuna and Manuele Gragnolati (Cambridge: Legenda), pp. 107–17
Example citation: ‘A quotation occurring on page 21 of this work’ (Cadel 2009: 21).
Garrido, Elisa Martínez, ‘Between Italy and Spain: The Tragedy of History and the Salvific Power of Love in Elsa Morante and María Zambrano’, in The Power of Disturbance: Elsa Morante's Aracoeli, ed. by Sara Fortuna and Manuele Gragnolati (Cambridge: Legenda, 2009), pp. 118–29
First footnote reference:35 Elisa Martínez Garrido, ‘Between Italy and Spain: The Tragedy of History and the Salvific Power of Love in Elsa Morante and María Zambrano’, in The Power of Disturbance: Elsa Morante's Aracoeli, ed. by Sara Fortuna and Manuele Gragnolati (Cambridge: Legenda, 2009), pp. 118–29, p. 21.
Garrido, Elisa Martínez. 2009. ‘Between Italy and Spain: The Tragedy of History and the Salvific Power of Love in Elsa Morante and María Zambrano’, in The Power of Disturbance: Elsa Morante's Aracoeli, ed. by Sara Fortuna and Manuele Gragnolati (Cambridge: Legenda), pp. 118–29
Example citation: ‘A quotation occurring on page 21 of this work’ (Garrido 2009: 21).
Parussa, Sergio, ‘The Womb of Dreams: Cabbalistic Themes and Images in Elsa Morante’s Aracoeli’, in The Power of Disturbance: Elsa Morante's Aracoeli, ed. by Sara Fortuna and Manuele Gragnolati (Cambridge: Legenda, 2009), pp. 130–44
First footnote reference:35 Sergio Parussa, ‘The Womb of Dreams: Cabbalistic Themes and Images in Elsa Morante’s Aracoeli’, in The Power of Disturbance: Elsa Morante's Aracoeli, ed. by Sara Fortuna and Manuele Gragnolati (Cambridge: Legenda, 2009), pp. 130–44, p. 21.
Parussa, Sergio. 2009. ‘The Womb of Dreams: Cabbalistic Themes and Images in Elsa Morante’s Aracoeli’, in The Power of Disturbance: Elsa Morante's Aracoeli, ed. by Sara Fortuna and Manuele Gragnolati (Cambridge: Legenda), pp. 130–44
Example citation: ‘A quotation occurring on page 21 of this work’ (Parussa 2009: 21).
Bérard, Claude Cazalé, ‘Morante and Weil: The Aporiae of History and the End of the Fairy Tale’, in The Power of Disturbance: Elsa Morante's Aracoeli, ed. by Sara Fortuna and Manuele Gragnolati (Cambridge: Legenda, 2009), pp. 145–60
First footnote reference:35 Claude Cazalé Bérard, ‘Morante and Weil: The Aporiae of History and the End of the Fairy Tale’, in The Power of Disturbance: Elsa Morante's Aracoeli, ed. by Sara Fortuna and Manuele Gragnolati (Cambridge: Legenda, 2009), pp. 145–60, p. 21.
Bérard, Claude Cazalé. 2009. ‘Morante and Weil: The Aporiae of History and the End of the Fairy Tale’, in The Power of Disturbance: Elsa Morante's Aracoeli, ed. by Sara Fortuna and Manuele Gragnolati (Cambridge: Legenda), pp. 145–60
Example citation: ‘A quotation occurring on page 21 of this work’ (Bérard 2009: 21).
Congedo, Mimma, ‘Indian Traces: Aracoeli, Pasolini’s L’odore dell’India, and Moravia’s Un’idea dell’India’, in The Power of Disturbance: Elsa Morante's Aracoeli, ed. by Sara Fortuna and Manuele Gragnolati (Cambridge: Legenda, 2009), pp. 161–76
First footnote reference:35 Mimma Congedo, ‘Indian Traces: Aracoeli, Pasolini’s L’odore dell’India, and Moravia’s Un’idea dell’India’, in The Power of Disturbance: Elsa Morante's Aracoeli, ed. by Sara Fortuna and Manuele Gragnolati (Cambridge: Legenda, 2009), pp. 161–76, p. 21.
Congedo, Mimma. 2009. ‘Indian Traces: Aracoeli, Pasolini’s L’odore dell’India, and Moravia’s Un’idea dell’India’, in The Power of Disturbance: Elsa Morante's Aracoeli, ed. by Sara Fortuna and Manuele Gragnolati (Cambridge: Legenda), pp. 161–76
Example citation: ‘A quotation occurring on page 21 of this work’ (Congedo 2009: 21).
Fortuna, Sara, and Manuele Gragnolati (eds), The Power of Disturbance: Elsa Morante's Aracoeli (Cambridge: Legenda, 2009)
First footnote reference:35The Power of Disturbance: Elsa Morante's Aracoeli, ed. by Sara Fortuna and Manuele Gragnolati (Cambridge: Legenda, 2009), p. 21.
Subsequent footnote reference:37 Fortuna and Gragnolati, p. 47.
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