Short Summary:
"Those Who Leave and Those Who Stay" by Elena Ferrante is a powerful and complex exploration of friendship, politics, and personal ambition, as the lives of two women diverge dramatically amidst the social and political upheaval of 1970s Italy.
Book Title: Those Who Leave and Those Who Stay
Author: Elena Ferrante
ISBN: 978-1609452339
Genre: Literary Fiction, Historical Fiction, Psychological Fiction
Published Year: 2013 (original Italian), 2014 (English translation)
Introduction
"Those Who Leave and Those Who Stay", the third installment in Elena Ferrante's renowned Neapolitan Novels, follows the lives of two childhood friends, Elena Greco and Lila Cerullo, as they grow into adulthood in a rapidly changing post-war Italy. This novel delves deeply into issues of gender, class, and politics, while continuing the rich, intricate exploration of friendship that has characterized the series from the beginning. Set in the turbulent 1970s, Ferrante’s narrative becomes more politically charged, focusing on the contrast between the intellectual and revolutionary movements of the time and the personal struggles of the characters.
This is a novel where ambition, identity, love, and the fight for self-determination are constantly at odds, with Elena and Lila representing two diverging paths of womanhood and survival.
Part One: Elena’s Rise in the Intellectual World
At the start of the novel, Elena (Lenù) is living in Florence, having recently published her first novel, which has achieved modest success. She is now engaged to Pietro Airota, a promising academic from a well-to-do family. Elena seems to have escaped the working-class roots of her childhood in Naples, but despite her success, she feels deeply insecure about her role as both a writer and a woman.
Elena’s Struggles with Identity
Elena’s engagement to Pietro marks her entry into a life that is more stable and affluent, yet she feels alienated from the intellectual circles she has worked so hard to enter. The expectations placed on her as a fiancée and soon-to-be mother become increasingly suffocating, and she grapples with her feelings of inadequacy:
- Doubts about her abilities as a writer: Despite her initial success, Elena constantly questions whether she truly has the talent to sustain a literary career. She compares herself to male writers and intellectuals, feeling inferior to them and often uncertain of her own voice.
- Tensions in her relationship: Her engagement to Pietro is not as fulfilling as she had hoped. Pietro, though kind and intellectual, is emotionally distant and often patronizing, treating Elena more as an intellectual companion than an equal partner. Elena finds herself caught between the traditional roles of wife and mother and her desire for independence.
Key Quote
"I had learned nothing; I knew nothing. I no longer had words. Even writing had become for me an arduous and thankless task."
Part Two: Lila’s Descent into the Working Class
Meanwhile, Lila (Raffaella Cerullo), Elena's childhood friend, has experienced a sharp decline in her fortunes. After leaving her abusive husband Stefano Carracci, she now works in a sausage factory under brutal conditions. Lila's life is marked by physical exhaustion, poverty, and constant struggle. Despite her suffering, she remains fiercely independent and resourceful, using her intelligence to survive in an unforgiving world.
Lila’s Struggle for Dignity
- Exploitation in the factory: Lila’s work at the sausage factory symbolizes the harsh realities faced by many women of her class. The conditions are deplorable, with women working long hours for little pay, and the factory owner, Bruno Soccavo, exploits them mercilessly. Lila, however, fights back by organizing her fellow workers and challenging the abusive practices of the factory.
- Class Consciousness: Unlike Elena, who has distanced herself from her Neapolitan roots, Lila remains deeply connected to the working class. Her political awakening is shaped by the growing labor movements of the time, and she becomes increasingly involved in activism. Her life is a testament to the struggles of women who are left behind by progress and modernization.
Lila’s Relationship with Nino Sarratore
In a surprising turn of events, Lila becomes involved with Nino Sarratore, a charismatic intellectual and former lover of Elena. This affair introduces further tension between Lila and Elena, as Nino’s presence complicates both women’s lives. For Lila, Nino represents an escape from her grim reality, but their relationship is marked by betrayal and disillusionment.
Key Quote
"I imagined that the fact that I had become so ugly had to do with fatigue, with dejection. I had finished in the factory. My life had become hard and mean."
Part Three: Diverging Paths – Ambition vs. Sacrifice
The title of the novel, "Those Who Leave and Those Who Stay", reflects the central tension between Elena and Lila's lives. Elena has "left" the neighborhood, both literally and figuratively, achieving social mobility and intellectual recognition. However, her ascent comes with a cost—she feels increasingly disconnected from her origins and from herself. Lila, on the other hand, has "stayed" in the working-class world of Naples, fighting for survival and dignity in a life filled with hardship.
Elena’s Confrontation with Patriarchy
As Elena navigates her role as a writer, wife, and mother, she confronts the limitations placed on her by a patriarchal society. Her marriage to Pietro becomes increasingly stifling, as she finds herself torn between domestic responsibilities and her intellectual aspirations. Even as she tries to balance these roles, she is haunted by the question of whether she has compromised too much of herself to fit into the expectations of others.
- Motherhood and Career: The birth of her children further complicates Elena’s life. While she loves her daughters, she struggles with the societal pressure to prioritize family over personal ambition. This conflict mirrors the broader feminist debates of the 1970s, where women were fighting for the right to both motherhood and professional fulfillment.
- Nino’s Return: Nino re-enters Elena's life, reigniting a passionate and tumultuous affair that challenges her marriage and her sense of self. Nino represents both temptation and danger, as he is both the intellectual companion Elena craves and a deeply selfish, unreliable figure.
Lila’s Political Awakening
Lila's involvement in labor activism deepens, and she becomes a central figure in the fight for workers' rights. Her efforts, however, are met with resistance from both the factory owners and the mafia, who have a stronghold on the local economy. Despite her personal sacrifices, Lila remains committed to her cause, symbolizing the resilience of those who "stay" and fight for change.
Contrasting Feminisms
Ferrante uses Elena and Lila’s diverging paths to explore different forms of feminism:
- Elena represents the middle-class feminist movement, where women seek to break into intellectual and professional spheres traditionally dominated by men. Her struggle is one of gaining recognition and equality in a world of privilege.
- Lila embodies working-class feminism, where the fight is against exploitation, economic oppression, and survival. Her feminism is rooted in labor rights and class struggle, highlighting the intersectionality of gender and economic justice.
Key Quote
"We were caught in a tangle of tensions and resentments that could explode violently at any moment."
Themes and Symbolism
1. Friendship and Rivalry
The friendship between Elena and Lila is at the heart of the novel. Their relationship is both a source of strength and conflict, as they are deeply connected yet constantly comparing themselves to one another. Ferrante brilliantly portrays the complexities of female friendship, where love, jealousy, admiration, and competition coexist.
2. Class and Social Mobility
The novel offers a sharp critique of the idea of social mobility. Elena’s rise from the impoverished neighborhood of Naples to the intellectual elite is fraught with challenges, and Ferrante suggests that the emotional and psychological cost of such a transformation is immense. Lila’s refusal or inability to leave highlights the brutal reality faced by those who remain trapped in a cycle of poverty.
3. Gender and Power
Ferrante explores how both women are subject to the constraints of a patriarchal society. Despite their intelligence and strength, both Elena and Lila are repeatedly undermined by men, whether through marriage, work, or sexual relationships. The novel engages with the broader feminist movements of the 1970s, showing how women were beginning to challenge these structures of power.
Conclusion
"Those Who Leave and Those Who Stay" is a deeply introspective and socially charged novel that examines the intersections of gender, class, and politics through the lens of two women’s lives. Elena Ferrante masterfully weaves personal and political struggles, showing how the lives of her characters are shaped by the broader societal forces around them. The novel’s portrayal of friendship, ambition, and sacrifice is rich with nuance, making it a compelling and thought-provoking exploration of womanhood in 20th-century Italy.
Ferrante leaves readers with the unsettling truth that personal success and societal progress are often accompanied by profound loss and compromise. Both Elena and Lila are shaped by the choices they make, but neither path offers simple answers or complete fulfillment. It is this tension, between what is gained and what is lost, that gives the novel its emotional depth and philosophical weight.
One-sentence summary: "Those Who Leave and Those Who Stay" is a powerful examination of friendship, ambition, and the societal forces that shape women’s lives in a rapidly changing Italy.