Those Who Leave and Those Who Stay

The women Lila works with at the salami factory are expected to endure unwanted sexual advances from the men. Lila was exempt from this harassment when she first began working there because of her acquaintance with the owner, Bruno Soccavo, a friend of Nino’s whom Elena and Lila met during vacation on Ischia in The Story of a New Name. However, Lila falls from Soccavo’s good graces when he tries to make an advance on her and she rejects him unequivocally. Having lost the meager protection Soccavo’s goodwill brought her, Lila is subjected to the bitter torments of her co-workers. Lila avoids Enzo’s inquiries about her job and instead throws herself into helping him with his studies. This nightly study ritual affords them an emotional intimacy but also allows them to avoid discussing what they are to each other.

Pasquale becomes a frequent guest at Lila and Enzo’s home after he and Enzo meet by chance on the streets near San Giovanni a Teduccio. Pasquale is the secretary of the local Communist Party chapter but has many complaints against them. During one of his visits, Pasquale mentions the neighborhood and Lila suddenly realizes how violent her upbringing was; her vivid imagination as a child allowed her to mask it. Pasquale brings Lila’s mother, Nunzia, to visit at San Giovanni a Teduccio one day, entirely unannounced. Although glad to see her daughter, Nunzia harshly criticizes Lila’s choices and blames her for the poverty their family has been left in after Lila separated from her wealthy but abusive husband, Stefano Carraci. Lila tells her mother not to come back.

Pasquale urges Lila to join the workers’ union; Lila is not interested but still obliges Pasquale by attending occasional meetings and demonstrations with him and Enzo. On one such occasion, Lila sees Nadia Galiani, the daughter of one of Elena’s high school teachers and Nino’s girlfriend at the time of his affair with Lila. The sight of well-bred, middle-class Nadia makes Lila feel inferior, prompting her to speak about the conditions at the salami factory. Lila’s speech impresses the other union members, although afterward Lila feels that she has made herself too vulnerable by speaking publicly.

A few days later, a group of students from the union hands out pamphlets inscribed with Lila’s speech to the workers at the gates of the salami factory. Soccavo calls Lila to his office and accuses her of writing the pamphlet herself; Lila denies it, but Soccavo warns her that if this continues, he will be “forced” to call in the Fascists to deal with the students. At the end of the workday, the other workers frame Lila for stealing a sausage, leading to deductions from her salary. 

Lila develops symptoms of a mysterious phenomenon she calls “dissolving margins”: in an episode, her heart races and objects become “unstuck,” losing their outlines and blurring into each other. She wants to seek comfort from Enzo but resolves to fix things on her own.

Lila wakes with a fever but goes to work anyway. The students are still handing out pamphlets at the factory, and just as Soccavo threatened, the Fascists arrive. Lila recognizes Gino, the neighborhood pharmacist’s son, among them. A fight ensues; as the Fascists drive away, Gino recognizes Lila and insults her.

The other workers blame Lila for the confrontation between the students and the Fascists. Lila worries that because Gino saw her, news of her whereabouts will reach Michele Solara, the head of an influential criminal network back in the neighborhood who has long been obsessed with Lila. Lila is worried that she will lose her job, the sole source of support she has for herself and Gennaro. With Gennaro in tow, Lila sets off for Nadia Galiani’s house after work to ask her to restrain the students. Lila recalls the time she attended a party at the Galianis’ house with Elena years before; surrounded by more educated people, Lila felt deeply inferior. When Lila arrives at the Galianis’ house, Professor Galiani answers the door but Nadia is not home. Lila knows that Professor Galiani does not recognize her and reminds her of the party from years ago; Lila claims she was bored the entire time.

Professor Galiani invites Lila in, and the two women talk while they wait for Nadia to return. Professor Galiani is impressed by the power and control in Lila’s speech; Elena thinks to herself in narration that Professor Galiani, too, must have been pulled in by Lila’s extraordinary “siren power” (138). Meanwhile, Gennaro plays with Professor Galiani’s grandson, Marco. Lila brags that her son can read already but is embarrassed when five-year-old Gennaro cannot read the word destinazione (destination) on the cover of a magazine and three-year-old Marco can. It’s a stark reminder of the privilege granted by wealth and opportunity. Just then, Professor Galiani’s son Aramando arrives, along with Nadia and, to Lila’s shock, Pasquale.

Lila is embittered by Pasquale’s appearance in the house of the educated and wealthy Galianis. It’s clear from their open displays of affection that Nadia and Pasquale are a couple. Lila rebukes Nadia for the risk the union’s activities put her in; she argues that the Galianis risk less than she does because they don’t rely on income they way Lila does. Nadia and her brother Armando try to persuade Lila that no one risks more or less than anyone else, but Lila thinks Nadia cannot possibly understand the struggles of a life she’s never had to lead. Professor Galiani stops Lila on her way out and asks her what she studied. The professor is surprised when Lila says she stopped her education after elementary school. Professor Galiani believes that if Lila had continued studying, she would have been as successful as Elena. Lila rejects this; according to her, education isn’t as valuable as it seems—it only makes one more wicked. When Professor Galiani asks if this has been the case for Elena, Lila says that they made a pact when they were little: “I’m the wicked one” (144).

Later, Pasquale and Lila argue. Lila is angry at Pasquale for his involvement with Nadia, and Pasquale is frustrated with Lila for being more concerned with her own circumstances than the larger cause. That night at dinner with Enzo, Pasquale announces that he is leaving the Communist party because he feels that it is not loyal to its ideals. Meanwhile, Lila agonizes over the opportunities she can’t give Gennaro. Lila resolves to use intimidation to get the upper hand at the factory.

The next day, Lila finds the Fascists, including Gino, at the factory gates. A fight breaks out when Edo, another worker, defends Lila from Gino’s harassments. Gino knocks Edo on the ground, and Lila strikes Gino in the chest with a rock. Pasquale arrives with a group of comrades, and the Communists and Fascists fight. Inside the factory, Lila helps her coworker Teresa tend to Edo’s wounds. Teresa asks Lila if she called the Communists; Lila didn’t, but she knows who called the Fascists: Soccavo.

The other workers at the factory treat Lila with more courtesy, and she does the same for them. Lila establishes a committee comprising representatives from the different sections of the factory, and compiles information from each to draft a report on the working conditions at the factory. Pasquale helps Lila contact someone from the union who can advise her on approaching negotiations with Soccavo. Lila is frustrated, however, when the union representative advises her to move slowly with her demands; she decides to deal with Soccavo directly.

Lila meets with Pasquale and the Galianis to review her demands sheet. They praise her work, but Lila is angered when they agree with the union representatives’ recommendation to move slowly. Overwhelmed by all her emotions, Lila has another fit of dissolving margins. Armando, who is a doctor, examines Lila and determines she has a heart murmur. He advises her to get a referral to a cardiologist tomorrow, but Lila is adamant that she must confront Soccavo then.

Lila and Enzo argue after Enzo finds out what Lila’s been doing in the factory and is hurt she didn’t confide in him. Lila breaks down and confesses that she didn’t want to cause trouble for Enzo and was afraid he would send her away. Lila asks to sleep with Enzo, although she wants nothing sexual from him. They fall asleep together in his bed, soothing Lila’s anxieties.

After some deliberation the next day—wherein Lila criticizes herself for her mind’s perpetual discontent, which she is caused her episodes of dissolving margins—Lila decides to bring the demand sheet to Soccavo. Before she can go up to his office, however, Soccavo summons her himself; to Lila’s shock, waiting there is Michele Solara.

Michele reveals that the Solaras own the salami factory; the Soccavos have been in debt to the Solaras for quite some time. Michele praises Lila’s brilliance and criticizes her assertiveness. When Lila tries to retaliate, Michele tells her that he’s got his eye on her and she better come running if he needs her. Lila hands Soccavo the demands sheet and leaves the room, but he lets Michele know in no uncertain terms that he has no power over her.

Despite her bold display, Lila is deeply shaken by Michele’s appearance. Soccavo, furious after reviewing the demands sheet, calls Lila back to his office. Lila quits on the spot. She returns home around 9pm that evening and asks Enzo and Pasquale to fetch Elena. After listening to her friend’s story, Elena feels that, despite all her own impressive accomplishments, Lila has done equally as well (if not more so) with far fewer tools or education than Elena has had access to.

Lila surprises Elena by speaking frankly about her experience with sex: she obtains no pleasure from intercourse and describes it as a “bother.” Elena is moved to reciprocate, surprised and touched by Lila’s confidences, but can only tell Lila that for her “it’s not like that.” Lila accuses Elena of lying, as Elena’s book indicates that Elena has felt disgust towards sex at least once. Elena avoids the question and gives a vague answer. Elena promises to stay and take care of Lila and Gennaro until Lila is better. Lila insists that she wants to return to the neighborhood as soon as she is well; Elena is surprised and tells her she’s unreasonable, that she (Elena) can’t wait to leave. Lila says that Elena has always been stronger than she is. As Elena leaves, Lila entreats her to remember her promise to care for Gennaro if something happens to Lila.

Elena tells Enzo and Pasquale that for the sake of her health, Lila can no longer be involved at the Soccavo factory. Pasquale is reluctant to accept this; Lila is crucial to the union’s cause there. Elena tries to emphasize with Pasquale’s concerns but remains adamant that Lila will not return there. Elena arranges Lila’s affairs and appointments; she is touched that Lila, ordinarily domineering, does as Elena says without protest.

After learning about Lila’s situation, Pietro mentions a colleague who knows about computers and might be able to find Enzo a job. Pietro says that Elena reminds him of his mother “when something is very important to her” (182), and he recommends that she ask Adele for advice too. Adele gives Elena the name of an editor at l’Unita, suggesting that Elena should use her role as a writer to intimidate Soccavo by publicly exposing his factory’s crimes.

With the power of the extensive Airota network at her disposal, Elena realizes that she might be able to do more for Lila than she thought. Elena calls Soccavo and threatens to expose him if he doesn’t give Lila her pay. Elena contacts the editor at l’Unita right away and proposes an article on Soccavo’s factory; the editor is happy to oblige her, and Elena turns to Lila’s report on the factory for guidance, noting the skill of Lila’s writing. Meanwhile, through Mariarosa’s connections, Elena finds a lawyer to negotiate Lila’s severance pay, and Adele makes Lila an appointment with the best cardiologist in Naples, free of charge.

Pietro helps Elena make an appointment for Enzo with a computer expert in Naples. Elena calls Soccavo, since Lila still has not received her severance pay, and informs him of her article’s impending publication. He is enraged but can do little about it. Elena submits her article to l’Unita immediately thereafter; the editor is impressed and wants to publish it as soon as possible.

Elena accompanies Lila to the cardiologist, who finds no problem with Lila’s heart; the problem is most likely in Lila’s brain. The cardiologist sends them to a neurologist, who likewise finds no problem and merely prescribes rest. Lila unexpectedly asks the neurologist to give her birth control pills, which she first heard about from Armando. The doctor encourages pregnancy as beneficial for “a woman in her condition,” but Lila is adamant—she knows women who were “ruined by pregnancy” (194). The neurologist sends Elena and Lila to a gynecologist who gives both women birth control pills.

After Elena’s article is published, a self-pitying Soccavo calls her and claims blamelessness; he inherited the factory and its corrupt practices from his father, and with the Solaras looming over his shoulder, what can he do? Nevertheless, Soccavo assures Elena that he has arranged Lila’s pay with her lawyer. When Elena collects Lila’s money from the lawyer, he warns Elena about the Solaras: Their influence has expanded and they are very powerful in the city of Naples. Elena, who has known the Solaras since childhood, doesn’t understand why this is a concern. When she tries to press the lawyer, he quickly changes the subject.

Enzo returns from his meeting with the computer expert and fills Lila and Elena at home. The computer expert was impressed by Enzo’s knowledge, and especially by the exercises Enzo and Lila did together in their study sessions. A computer production factory in Naples will need operators soon, and the computer expert will contact Enzo when they begin hiring. As Enzo and Lila talk excitedly together about this news, Elena has the thought that “their way of being together comes from something better in the neighborhood. Maybe Lila is right to want to go back” (200).

Elena receives an invitation to Michele and Gigliola’s wedding. Elena decides to visit them under the pretense of offering congratulations so she can feel out if Michele’s obsession with Lila still poses a threat to her friend. Elena visits the Solaras’ apartment, and is greeted by their mother, Manuela, a moneylender who is feared throughout the neighborhood for her infamous “Red Book.” Manuela tells Elena that Michele is moving out of the main neighborhood into the newer, more affluent part; Elena feels this a good sign.

Elena visits Michele’s new apartment. Michele isn’t home, but Elena has a long conversation with Gigliola, who is miserable in her relationship with Michele. Michele verbally and physically abuses Gigliola and humiliates her by openly sleeping around with other women; he is only marrying Gigliola to keep up appearances. In fact, Michele is really in love with someone else: Lila. Gigliola describes what Michele once told her about his feelings for Lila– to Michele, all women are “games” except for Lila, who stands out because of her extraordinary intelligence. Michele thinks that he alone truly understands Lila, and he wants to possess her, but not sexually—he wants to own her exceptional mind. However, the twisted respect he has for Lila coupled with her fierce character discourages Michele from trying to dominate Lila like he has subjugated other women. Gigliola says she used to hate Lila but now loves her because she is the only one who can make Michele “shit blood” (209). Elena, alarmed, asks Gigliola if she thinks Michele would ever hurt Lila; Gigliola responds that Michele could hurt anyone without hesitation, including his own relations and Lila’s, but he would never do anything to Lila herself.

After her visit with Gigliola, Elena visits her old high school classmate, Alfonso Carracci, Stefano’s younger brother and Lila’s ex-brother-in-law, at the bookstore where Alfonso works. Having investigated the situation with Michele, Elena now wants to find out if Lila has anything to fear from Stefano. Alfonso says only that it was “predictable” that Lila and Stefano’s marriage would end in separation, and he goes on to say that he himself feels a kind of kinship with Lila, “an effect of distance and closeness at the same time” (210). Alfonso says that if he were a woman, he would have wanted to be like Lila. Alfonso speaks of his upcoming wedding to Marisa Sarratore, Nino’s younger sister, with resentment, revealing that Michele forced the wedding after Marisa complained. Alfonso discloses to Elena that he is gay. Alfonso is surprised that Elena had not already guessed on her own—and more surprised that she had not heard it from Lila, as Alfonso had confided in Lila a while ago. Elena is hurt that despite her long-standing friendship with Alfonso, he chose to confide in Lila and not her.

Elena discusses Lila’s return to the neighborhood with Enzo. Enzo has nothing against moving back to the neighborhood and says he will stay with Lila as long as she wants him. They find an apartment back in the neighborhood, and although her wedding is fast approaching, Elena helps Lila prepare to move in. One day, while Lila and Elena are out in the neighborhood with Gennaro, they run into Melina Cappuccio; Melina is the mother of Ada Cappuccio, Stefano’s mistress who moved in with Stefano after Lila left him. Melina is accompanied by Ada and Stefano’s daughter, who is a little younger than Gennaro. Melina comments that Gennaro and her granddaughter both look just like their father. This shocks Lila, who had always thought that Gennaro was Nino’s child; she now realizes that he is indubitably Stefano’s son.

Elena feels that she’s done all she can for Lila; she prepares to leave for Florence, fearing that if she stays any longer, she’ll be dragged back into the neighborhood she’s fighting so hard to escape. Elena decides to visit her old teacher, Professor Galiani, before she leaves, and gift Professor Galiani a copy of her book. Professor Galiani accepts Elena’s request to call on her and tells Elena to bring Lila too. Elena and Lila set off; Lila asks Elena why she isn’t getting married in a church and urges her to at least have a reception, asking if Elena really won’t invite even her. Elena asks if Lila would even come, and Lila laughs and says no. Professor Galiani is absent when Elena and Lila arrive; Nadia and Pasquale greet them instead. While Elena and Lila wait for Professor Galiani, Nadia and Pasquale criticize Elena’s efforts at the Soccavo factory as being shortsighted and self-interested. Elena, angry, tries to defend herself, but Lila stops her; she says Nadia and Pasquale are right.

The argument breaks off when Professor Galiani enters and leads Lila and Elena to her study. During the visit, Professor Galiani is cold and disinterested towards Elena and focuses entirely on Lila. Professor Galiani asks if Lila will attend Elena’s upcoming wedding; Lila claims Elena is ashamed of her and has not invited her. Elena is shocked and protests, but Lila insists, leaving Elena feeling wounded at the blatant misrepresentation. To change the subject, Elena presents Professor Galiani with the copy of her book, a gesture that Professor Galiani ignores. Instead, Professor Galiani praises Lila’s writing for the Communist party, calling it courageous and well written.

Bitter over Professor Galiani’s dismissive attitude and her undisguised admiration for Lila, Elena leaves feeling intensely inferior. Elena is even more bitter about Lila’s behavior: How could Lila portray Elena so negatively after everything Elena did for her? To Elena’s surprise, Lila criticizes the professor and her children harshly on the way home and defends Elena against Professor Galiani’s comments. Elena is confused; Lila’s fickle moods towards her leave Elena no longer able to distinguish sincerity from falseness. Elena feels that Lila’s praise is inauthentic and that Lila is ungrateful for all of Elena’s help. Feeling that she can never free herself from the feeling of inferiority that Lila inspires in her, Elena secretly wishes that Lila would die.