Abstract
Il sistema periodico can be read as Primo Levi's symbolic memoirs. In all these stories, he creates analogies between chemical elements and his life, thereby unifying through narrative his different selves: student, chemist, Holocaust survivor, writer. In three stories, Levi expands his symbology to embrace classical mythology. These connections serve as a universalizing gesture that informs our understanding of Levi's life lessons. “Vanadio” takes its name from the Norse goddess Vanadis and provides a symbol for the imperfection of memory and literature. “Cerio” references the Roman goddess Ceres and the Greek goddess Demeter, which give depth to the theme of denial Levi portrays through Alberto and his mother. In “Uranio,” the myths of Uranus and Cadmos shed light on Bonino's narrative. In each case, the mythical stories symbolize the difficulty of arriving at and portraying truth in life and literature.
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