MODELLING OF THE CHILDHOOD WORLD IN THE NOVEL “MARGHERITA DOLCEVITA” BY S. BENNI

Abstract

In the article the problem of the childhood in the novel “Margherita Dolcevita” by S. Benni has been studied. The well-known Italian author shows the particular situation when the child comes into collision with the world of adults for the first time. That’s why the main character 15-year-old Margherita became an active adolescent who fights for her family and the main family values. The narrative subjectified child’s “I” reflects the world-view of the XXI century where adults are enchanted by the power of consumerism. Margherita struggles for salvation of the family because she is the only child who can find forces to resist the evil in his own pure soul. The process of modeling of the childhood world is accomplished due to the symbolization of the home space as hearth in contrast with modern soulless neighbors’ world embodied by their black house. Margherita became the core to assemble all generations of her family together. The following microdominants of modeling of the childhood world have been defined: existential dimension of home and family, discontinued connection between family generations, the way to self-identity through the life trials and growing up. The formal peculiarities of the novels such as visuality, unity of composition, burning conflict to show as if from within a difficult emotional and psychological situation in which the character is found have been investigated. This novel by its title “Margherita Dolcevita” gives the child answer to the challenge of the world which she would like to preserve as kind and joyful. The studied novel is rated between the best examples of literature on child’s problems and childhood. Unfortunately this writer remains quite unknown to Ukrainian audience. This fact shows the topicality of this research.