L'AGNESE VA A MORIRE and Meanings of Compassion in the Female Partisans' Struggle against German Nazis and Italian Fascists

Abstract

This article examines Renata Viganó's neorealist work, L'Agnese va a morire through the point of view of theories of emotions. Attempting to overcome the lack of critical consideration to the complex associations between emotions and the author's work on neorealism, this analysis argues that the author utilizes compassion to reveal women's contribution to the Resistance movement and to underline the protagonist's fundamental temperament. The compassionate reactions, produced by the main character, Agnese, or given to her, are analyzed in order to point out how women sustained the partisans' struggle and extended their dedication to a larger group of people. By doing that, they showed their capability to efficiently operate not only in the family, but also in the community and to fulfill responsibilities outside their private space. This study underscores clear features of emotions and compassion in particular.