I found this read very interesting. Unlike some of the other novels we read, I had a much more difficult time putting this one down. This is different for me as I typically really enjoy reading if I can somehow relate to the characters or storyline in some way. This was definitely not the case for this particular read.
As mentioned in some of the other blog posts, there was certainly a unique relationship between Agostino and his mother, at least in Agostino’s mind. It definitely made me feel a bit uncomfortable at times and could maybe be described as a bit intimate. I definitely sensed that they had a very close relationship, perhaps not with many other people around them in their lives.
They seem to stick to a relatively similar day to day life. That is until a young man catches the eye of Agostino’s mom. Suddenly, he is no longer alone on his daily boat excursions with his mom and has to watch this young man take his mom’s attention. This is frustrating for him as he’s always been the one to receive all of his mom’s attention, with his father having died when he was young.
The relationship Agostino’s mom forms with this young man forces their mother/son relationship to be distanced. This in turn pushes agostino towards a group of boys who are not the most kind and come from a ‘rougher’ way of life. However it seems as though Agostino craves approval from this group, even if that means being treated unfairly. I got the feeling that he hadn’t experienced hanging around these types of guys and lifestyle before. Knowing that Agostino’s family comes from some money, this was probably a first for him. I think this made him a lot more vulnerable to the group.
Moreover, these guys happened to know a bit about Agostino’s mother, things that he should have been made aware of sooner. After spending time with them on their adventure for the day, it is almost as if when Agostino comes back, he has some in regards to his mother. When he’s back home in her presence, “He realized quickly that although she was now a woman in his eyes, she remained more a mother than ever” (69). His view had changed completely and he maybe even resented her for the way she had been behaving around him for so long (things like displaying her naked body inappropriately).
I feel like I have a lot of questions but one I have for the class is wondering what would’ve happened if the group of guys hadn’t come into Agostino’s life? Would the inappropriate thoughts continue until some sort of male figure shakes him into some realization, or would this simply lessen with age/maturity?
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I found this read very interesting. Unlike some of the other novels we read, I had a much more difficult time putting this one down. This is different for me as I typically really enjoy reading if I can somehow relate to the characters or storyline in some way. This was definitely not the case for this particular read.
As mentioned in some of the other blog posts, there was certainly a unique relationship between Agostino and his mother, at least in Agostino’s mind. It definitely made me feel a bit uncomfortable at times and could maybe be described as a bit intimate. I definitely sensed that they had a very close relationship, perhaps not with many other people around them in their lives.
They seem to stick to a relatively similar day to day life. That is until a young man catches the eye of Agostino’s mom. Suddenly, he is no longer alone on his daily boat excursions with his mom and has to watch this young man take his mom’s attention. This is frustrating for him as he’s always been the one to receive all of his mom’s attention, with his father having died when he was young.
The relationship Agostino’s mom forms with this young man forces their mother/son relationship to be distanced. This in turn pushes agostino towards a group of boys who are not the most kind and come from a ‘rougher’ way of life. However it seems as though Agostino craves approval from this group, even if that means being treated unfairly. I got the feeling that he hadn’t experienced hanging around these types of guys and lifestyle before. Knowing that Agostino’s family comes from some money, this was probably a first for him. I think this made him a lot more vulnerable to the group.
Moreover, these guys happened to know a bit about Agostino’s mother, things that he should have been made aware of sooner. After spending time with them on their adventure for the day, it is almost as if when Agostino comes back, he has some in regards to his mother. When he’s back home in her presence, “He realized quickly that although she was now a woman in his eyes, she remained more a mother than ever” (69). His view had changed completely and he maybe even resented her for the way she had been behaving around him for so long (things like displaying her naked body inappropriately).
I feel like I have a lot of questions but one I have for the class is wondering what would’ve happened if the group of guys hadn’t come into Agostino’s life? Would the inappropriate thoughts continue until some sort of male figure shakes him into some realization, or would this simply lessen with age/maturity?
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Reading Moravia’s Agostino brought me a new perspective towards the transition between youth and adulthood. While I was trying to empathize the situation Agostino was going though, such as him witnessing his mother’s relationship with the young man, I could not understand – by heart – what Agostino could have felt in those moments. […]
Posted in Blogs, Moravia | Tagged with Relationship, Sensuality
In “Nada” Laforet creates a setting where I felt on edge the entire book. Following the orphan protagonist Andrea through the ruins of war struck Barcelona, she navigates a new hostile family dynamic while eager to study. The narration of the story carried a creepy, paranoid, and overall unsettling feeling of post war trauma. A … Continue reading “Thoughts on Carmen Laforet’s “Nada””
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Despite the fact that Alberto Moravia’s Agostino’s text and plot are more emotional, I believe that the intent behind the novel is to emphasize the importance of motherhood to the development of the child, child sexuality, and the importance of education. Agostino and his mother go out every day rowing a boat called Patino, and […]
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Hey everyone! Moravia’s Agostino is a coming-of-age type book that focuses on our main character, Agostino’s thoughts, and experiences during…
Posted in Blogs, Moravia | Tagged with adolescence, change
Agostino by Alberto Moravia was an interesting novel, to say the least! The protagonist Agostino who is around the age of puberty experiences unsettling feelings towards his mother during their holiday. The themes of sexuality are predominant in this short novel and they tend to override Agostino’s formation of thoughts which lead to his misfortunate …
Hi everyone! Today, I’m going to be reflecting on Alberto Moravia’s novel, Agostino. I figure most people would have noticed…
Posted in Blogs, Moravia | Tagged with coming of age story, disturbing, journey, sexual awakening
The juxtaposition between Agostino’s summer as an Italian boy compared to the crudely honest and undeniable thought processes of a growing boy were evident in this reading. The boy who is so incredibly reliant emotionally on his mother has been catapulted and ridiculed into a no longer sheltered reality when he meets a gang of […]
Posted in Blogs, Moravia | Tagged with dynamics, masculinity, narratives, toxicity
The text Agostino by Alberto Moravia discusses a period of time during a vacation between a mother and her son. For me, while the novel was short, I felt that the author successfully created a world that presents different themes, such as maternal relationships and the process of maturing. The text gives specific emphasis to […]
