Ragazzi di vita
Encyclopedia
Ragazzi di vita is a novel by Italian author, poet and intellectual Pier Paolo Pasolini
. It was published in 1956.
Pasolini wished to bring to the attention of the public the existence of this underground class they thought extinct. As he saw it, “They were thought of as a closed book. Yet, poor devils they really did exist”. He wrote the book in lowbrow language and derogatory slang that the real life “lumpen proletariat” would use that made the book not easily accessible for mainstream Italy
, the Italy that Pasolini was against. He would later write in Heretical Empiricism that literature should be “written in a language substantially different from that of the writer, not leaving out of consideration a certain naturalism”. Another alienating characteristic of the book is the fact that the narrator does not provide any background information to a society who know nothing of what he is writing. His narration puts himself on the same level as the people he is writing of; he does not narrate from above. He saw the underground class as the only ones who survived the corruption brought about of industrialization and modernity; a sort of human time capsule. He saw them as the only ones who are truly free. He respects them for this, and sees them as being the true underclass; that even the Communist Party
sees themselves as being above.
and La Ricotta
in developing his own form of neo-realism
, separate from that of Roberto Rossellini
and other post-war directors. Pasolini carried neo-realism further creating a sort of “hyper-realism”. While Rossellini highlights the lives of the common man, Pasolini seeks to highlight the lives of the sub-common man. Ragazzi di Vita stands as a milestone for the development of Pasolini’s passion for this genre.
) at the time condemned it for its “obscenity”. On the other side, the communists did not approve of the book as well charging it with “artificiality, an absence of positive heroes, and, especially a lack of 'perspective'”. It was not the first time Pasolini had faced persecution and it would not be his last; though the controversy and criticism also generated attention and intrigue. Pasolini had thus managed to start shedding light on the forgotten people he wanted the public to remember.
Pier Paolo Pasolini
Pier Paolo Pasolini was an Italian film director, poet, writer, and intellectual. Pasolini distinguished himself as a poet, journalist, philosopher, linguist, novelist, playwright, filmmaker, newspaper and magazine columnist, actor, painter and political figure...
. It was published in 1956.
Plot
The novel tells the story of Riccetto, a street urchin who the audience is first introduced to during his Confirmation and First Communion. Not too long afterwards, Riccetto is stealing from a blind beggar and a convent. Over the next few years, the reader follows along with Riccetto as he goes from robbery to scam to prostituting himself and back again while drifting around. During this time, many of his companions are killed or die off and there is constant immorality at hand. He is finally arrested and put in jail after trying to steal some iron in order to buy his fiancée an engagement ring. He is released afterwards and goes back to his same street life. Pasolini makes it clear to the reader that Riccetto and his peers are wanderers by nature, they have no life plans or goals and don’t care to; Riccetto is a more deviant Dean Moriarty of sorts. This is the way in which Pasolini finds this subclass of people to be free from modernity and rooted in a way of life that has since been lost. He also admired “what he considered their pre-political rebelliousness”; they were separated from the partisan politics that plagued post-war modern Italy.Pasolini wished to bring to the attention of the public the existence of this underground class they thought extinct. As he saw it, “They were thought of as a closed book. Yet, poor devils they really did exist”. He wrote the book in lowbrow language and derogatory slang that the real life “lumpen proletariat” would use that made the book not easily accessible for mainstream Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, the Italy that Pasolini was against. He would later write in Heretical Empiricism that literature should be “written in a language substantially different from that of the writer, not leaving out of consideration a certain naturalism”. Another alienating characteristic of the book is the fact that the narrator does not provide any background information to a society who know nothing of what he is writing. His narration puts himself on the same level as the people he is writing of; he does not narrate from above. He saw the underground class as the only ones who survived the corruption brought about of industrialization and modernity; a sort of human time capsule. He saw them as the only ones who are truly free. He respects them for this, and sees them as being the true underclass; that even the Communist Party
Communist party
A political party described as a Communist party includes those that advocate the application of the social principles of communism through a communist form of government...
sees themselves as being above.
Significance
Ragazzi di vita parallels some of Pasolini’s films like Mamma RomaMamma Roma
Mamma Roma is a 1962 film directed by Pier Paolo Pasolini.- Story :An ex-prostitute, Mamma Roma , tries to start a new life selling vegetables with her 16-year-old son Ettore...
and La Ricotta
La ricotta
La ricotta is a short film written and directed by Pier Paolo Pasolini in 1962 and is part of the omnibus film RoGoPaG...
in developing his own form of neo-realism
Neorealism (art)
In art, neorealism was established by the ex-Camden Town Group painters Charles Ginner and Harold Gilman at the beginning of World War I. They set out to explore the spirit of their age through the shapes and colours of daily life...
, separate from that of Roberto Rossellini
Roberto Rossellini
Roberto Rossellini was an Italian film director and screenwriter. Rossellini was one of the directors of the Italian neorealist cinema, contributing films such as Roma città aperta to the movement.-Early life:Born in Rome, Roberto Rossellini lived on the Via Ludovisi, where Benito Mussolini had...
and other post-war directors. Pasolini carried neo-realism further creating a sort of “hyper-realism”. While Rossellini highlights the lives of the common man, Pasolini seeks to highlight the lives of the sub-common man. Ragazzi di Vita stands as a milestone for the development of Pasolini’s passion for this genre.
Public reception
The novel was criticized among the general public (as were many of his films) upon its release and was heavily censored. The government in power (led by the Christian DemocracyChristian Democracy (Italy)
Christian Democracy was a Christian democratic party in Italy. It was founded in 1943 as the ideological successor of the historical Italian People's Party, which had the same symbol, a crossed shield ....
) at the time condemned it for its “obscenity”. On the other side, the communists did not approve of the book as well charging it with “artificiality, an absence of positive heroes, and, especially a lack of 'perspective'”. It was not the first time Pasolini had faced persecution and it would not be his last; though the controversy and criticism also generated attention and intrigue. Pasolini had thus managed to start shedding light on the forgotten people he wanted the public to remember.
Sources
- Freidrich, Pia. Pier Paolo Pasolini. Boston: Twayne, 1982.
- Pasolini, Pier Paolo. Heretical Empiricism. English translation by Ben Lawton and Louise K. Barnett. Bloomington: Indiana UP, 1988.
- Sillanpoa, William. "Pasolini's Gramsci." MLN 96 (1981): 120-137. JSTOR. NYU Bobst, New York. 11 March 2006 http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0026-7910%28198101%2996%3A1%3C120%3APG%3E2.0.CO%3B2-5.
- Ward, David. A Poetics of Resistance. Madison: Farleigh Dickinson, 1995.