Customer Reviews

Conjugal Love

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Moravia writes with simplicity and charm, a short and simple story about Silvio, an aspiring writer and his beautiful young wife. When they moved to the countryside in the hope of realising Silvio's writing ambitions, they soon discover that Silvio was unable to satisfy his ambition nor his wife. One might think that that is all there is - a story of failure; but on reflection, it is a thought provoking tale that makes us think about the chasm between dream and reality, and the happiness one seeks and the unpredictable ways we lose our way in process of searching. In the end, one does not condemn, and the epiphany that fell on Silvio also renders us incapable of being judgmental. It partially explains the nature of many relationships, and Moravia summed it up in one curt sentence: "Women love failed men who have renounced all ambition except to make them happy." The rest we have to discover for ourselves.

imho the entire plot, as well as the characters of Leda (the wife) and Antonio (the cuckolding barber), are nothing more than a framework that Moravia constructs on which to hang a portrait of a completely failed man. A man who, in existentialist terms (and it's completely an existentialist novel) has no authenticity, who merely exists but does not live his life. In this case, he examines his life (or better his behavior, not exactly the same thing since behavior is just the observable manifestation of what's going on inside a person) incessantly, 24/7. Instead of living he thinks about living, makes up stories -- excuses -- about his behavior, thinks incessantly about himself but uses all these thoughts and stories in order to avoid ever connecting with himself. Instead of being and living, he tells stories about what he does. In the end, faced with the crisis of his wife's betrayal, he cowardly retreats from any emotion, doesn't even talk about it with his wife (much less the barber), and just continues his inauthentic, empty, meaningless life.

A great novel, wonderfully written, can be read in one evening, and should be enough to scare any reader into abandoning whatever phony acts the reader may be using to fool himself and/or those around him, and instead dive into and thus create a real life for him/herself.

This tale was a quick and incisive view into one artist's struggle with his ambition, and with love. Despite having every material thing he might wish for, the wealthy protagonist can't seem to produce his ultimate dream: a literary work of art. His attempt at resolving the dilemma provides a deceptive resolution, and ultimately threatens his entire concept of himself.

Moravia's storytelling style is incisive, simple and quite addictive. I literally couldn't put the book down once I started. The plot is simple yet intriguing, and one feels immediately invested with the character's struggle. Some surprising and wise observations about human nature, and our inability to rise above our shortcomings. Interesting that the setting is 1937, because the concerns feel so contemporary. And yet, the end does provide hope. Looking forward to re-reading this, and reading all of Moravia's other works.

Highly recommended read.