Bread and Wine
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Bread and Wine
Ignazio Silone
11/26/04
Bread and Wine is a timeless story of the struggle of one man in a changing country. The Country is Italy. The time is the 1930s, however the struggle is against fascism. To understand where the book is coming from, one must first understand where the author himself was coming from. Ignazio Silone can be closely related to the main character in the book; Pietro Spina. He was born early in May in the year 1900. Living in a small village in the region of Abruzzi, something caught the eye of the young Silone. That something, was the promise of a better life. That something, was the hope of a socialist Italy. Since 15 years old Ignazio Silone tried desperately, doing what was in his power to help the cause, and overcome the odds of fascism. It is his life that ignited his writing career, and that career which ignited the beginning of this book.
The opening of the book begins to set up the novel, and describe the setting. It is Don Benedettos birthday, and he is expecting guests. The beginning of the attitudes of the surrounding villagers begin to show light, as the book explains because of his solitary state on the hill most in the village think of him as somewhat of a simpleton. As the guests arrive by car, the buffoonery of the locals shines through again as the shepherd blocking the car refuses to move, his only defense is that they should have said they were visiting Don Benedetto. The author must have put these few signs in the beginning of the book to give readers a quick sense of the local population of being very ignorant, so it has room to escalate during the duration of the novel. The guests are to stay for a while reminiscing of past times, and talking of old friends, until one particular person is brought up. Don Benedettos favorite student. A one Pietro Spina. Pietro was an especially unique student. Although very bright, he was troublesome, and restless. These are among the first descriptions of the main character. The chapter ends at news of Spina returning to Italy, and being tracked by police.
This is where things begin to get a little more interesting. Dr. Nunzio, one of the students who visited Don Benedetto is tricked into helping Pietro Spina which is being hidden in a hayloft in a barn on the outskirts of a village. As Pietro Spina hides out in the loft, he is taken care of by both Nunzio, and the owner of the barn; Cardile. Eating bread by day, and drinking wine by night, he works to gain his strength but must also be cautious as to not arouse suspicion, and to stay under cover. And after an encounter with a local girl, it is time for Pietro to leave. But he cannot stay as he is, so what better disguise then a priest.
“Well call you Don Paolo Spada”, Nunzio said, as Spina and Nunzio head out (Silone 46). As the Don travels to his new getaway high in a mountain town. Outside of the reach of the police he is to grow healthy and to begin his planning. His problem now is not that anyone would recognize him as Pietro Spina, but rather people recognizing him as a priest. Since the first step on the carriage he is asked questions, or asked of favors from the lower class. Thus the beginning of the knowledge of the cafoni is learned. It is quite obvious from almost everyone that is written about in this book is either very superstitious, very religious, or both. Not to mention extremely ignorant. There is no one place where he is ever let alone. His priestly cloak acts as a neon sign in Las Vegas, only not to attract gamblers, and petty thrill seekers, but problematic maidens, and sickly children. Was Don Paolo going to be comfortable in this role?
One point about understanding this book is the cafoni. The cafoni are a working, farming, peasant type class that is the lowest around southern Italy. These people are neither very educated, or very current on events that are happening in other parts of the country. One of the only things that they do know is tradition. Farming for instance is one tradition these cafoni hold dear. If a piece of land is in their family for generations they will keep it and grow on it for whatever they can get, even a loss of profit. Another tradition could be considered as their religion, and their superstition. The evil eye seems to be a superstition that most of the