Summary The late Mattia Pascal
L. Pirandello
The late Mattia Pascal
Matthia Pascal, a former curator of books in a library, bequeathed by a certain Signor Bokkamats to his native city, writes the story of his life. Father Mattia died early, and the mother remained with two children – six-year-old Roberto and four-year-old Mattia. All affairs were conducted by the manager of Batta Malanya, who soon ruined the family of the former owner. After the death of the first wife, the elderly Malanya married the young Oliva, to whom Matthia was not indifferent, but they had no children, and Malanya began to offend Oliva, believing it to be her fault. Oliva suspected that it was not in her, but in Malanya, but decency prevented her from testing her suspicions. Friend Mattia Pomino told him that he was in love with his cousin Malanya Romilda. Her mother wanted to marry the girl to the rich man Malanya, but it did not work out, and now that Malanya began to repent of his marriage to the childless Oliva, devises
Mattia decides to settle in Rome. He takes a room from Anselmo Paleari – an old eccentric who takes a great interest in spiritualism. Mattia gets a great sympathy for his youngest daughter Adriana – a modest kind girl, honest and decent. Adriana’s son-in-law Terencio Piano after the death of Adriana’s sister must return Anselmo’s dowry, as his wife died childless. He asked Anselmo for a postponement and wants to marry Adrian, so as not to return money. But Adriana is afraid and hates the rough, prudent son-in-law, she falls in love with Mattia Pascal. Papiano is confident that Mattia is rich, and wants to introduce him to an enviable bride – Pepita Pantogada, to distract him from Adriana. He invites Pepita to Anselmo for a seance. Pepita comes along with the governess and the Spanish artist Bernaldes.
During the spiritualistic session, in which all the occupants of the house take part, Mattia, from the locker, is losing twelve thousand lire. Only Papano could steal them.
Adriana suggests Mattia to report to the police, but he can not claim theft – he’s nobody, he’s revived dead. He can not marry Adrian, however much he loves her, for he is married. To hush up the case, he prefers to lie, as if money were found. In order not to torment Adrian, Mattia decides to behave so that Adrian ceases to love him. He wants to start taking care of Pepita Pantogada. But the jealous Bernaldes, by which Mattia accidentally offended, offends him, and the code of honor obliges Mattia to call Bernaldes to a duel. D Mattia can not find the seconds – it turns out that to do this you need to keep a lot of formalities, which can not be done without documents.
Mattia sees that his second life has come to a standstill, and leaving a cane and hat on the bridge so everyone thinks that he has rushed into the water, gets on the train and goes to his homeland.
From Adriano Meisa, he only has a healthy eye: Mattia did the operation and no longer mows.
Arriving home, Mattia first visits his brother Roberto. Roberto is shocked and does not believe his eyes. He tells Mattia that Romilda married Pomino after his alleged suicide, but now her second marriage will be null and void by law, and she is obliged to return to Mattia. Mattia does not want this at all: Pomino and Romilda have a little daughter – why destroy their family happiness? Yes, he does not like Romilda. Pomino and Romilda are amazed and perplexed to see Mattia alive, after more than two years after his disappearance. Mattia reassures them: he does not need anything from them.
On the street no one will recognize Mattia Pascal: everyone thinks he is dead.
Mattia goes to the cemetery, looks for the grave of an unknown person, whom everyone accepted for him, reads the felt inscription on the gravestone and puts flowers on the grave.
He settles in the house of his old aunt. From time to time he comes to the cemetery “to look at himself – dead and buried.” Some curious man asks, “But who are you?” Mattia shrugs, squints and answers: “I am the late Mattia Pascal” .
With the help of Don Elijo, who replaced Matthia as the curator of books at Bokkamaodi’s library, Mattia presents his strange story on paper for half a year. In a conversation with Don Eligio, he says that he does not understand what kind of morality can be derived from it. But Don Elijo argues that there is no doubt that there is a moral in this story, and this is what: “Outside of the established law, beyond those particular circumstances, joyful or sad, which make us ourselves… impossible to live.”
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