Matilde Esposito

Pirandello e l’ombra degli scienziati: tra Nordau e Mantegazza

Introduction

Pirandello e l’ombra degli scienziati: tra nordau e mantegazza. Analisi dell'influenza di Nordau e Mantegazza su Pirandello. Scopri come l'umorismo fin de siècle svelava le contraddizioni tra scienza darwiniana e convenzioni sociali.

Abstract

Nel presente articolo intendo sottolineare come, nell’Europa fin de siècle, i divulgatori della rivoluzione positivistica si appropriarono spesso del registro umoristico, considerato il più adeguato a evidenziare le contraddizioni determinatesi tra una nuova concezione dell’uomo e della società, emersa dalle recenti acquisizioni scientifiche (in particolare dall’affermazione della dottrina darwiniana), e l’immutabilità delle convenzioni. Indagherò dunque le possibili suggestioni che Le menzogne convenzionali della nostra civiltà del medico ungherese Max Nordau e il romanzo Le tre Grazie del medico e antropologo monzese Paolo Mantegazza esercitarono sull’opera di Luigi Pirandello dagli anni della formazione fino al 1905, focalizzandomi in particolare sulle novelle Le tre carissime e Senza malizia e sul Fu Mattia Pascal.

Review

The article, "Pirandello e l’ombra degli scienziati: tra Nordau e Mantegazza," proposes a fascinating interdisciplinary examination of Luigi Pirandello's early work through the lens of *fin de siècle* scientific popularizers. The author's central premise posits that the humorous register adopted by positivistic popularizers, keen to expose the tension between emerging Darwinian views of humanity and entrenched societal conventions, likely had a significant impact on Pirandello. This timely investigation promises to shed new light on the intellectual currents shaping Pirandello's unique artistic vision, offering a valuable contribution to both Pirandello studies and the broader understanding of cultural exchanges during this pivotal European period. The study intends to meticulously trace the "possible suggestions" or influences of Max Nordau's *Le menzogne convenzionali della nostra civiltà* and Paolo Mantegazza's *Le tre Grazie* on Pirandello. The chosen timeframe, from Pirandello's formative years up to 1905, is particularly apt, as it covers the crucial period leading to the full blossoming of his philosophical humor and his engagement with societal critiques. The author plans to focus on specific textual analyses of Pirandello's novellas *Le tre carissime* and *Senza malizia*, alongside his seminal novel *Il Fu Mattia Pascal*. This selection of primary texts is well-justified, representing key works from the period under consideration and offering fertile ground for exploring the subtle interplay between scientific discourse, societal critique, and literary expression. One of the article's significant strengths lies in its specific focus on the *humorous register* as a mediating element between scientific popularization and literary production, an often-overlooked aspect of intellectual influence. By connecting Pirandello's early narrative strategies to the specific works of Nordau and Mantegazza, the article has the potential to reveal previously underexplored intellectual genealogies, enriching our understanding of the origins of Pirandello's distinctive brand of philosophical humor and his critique of conventionality. The rigorous textual analysis promised, combined with the clear historical context, positions this study to make a compelling argument. This promises to be a highly insightful and well-executed piece of scholarship that will undoubtedly spark further discussion in the field.

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