“Of madness and sagacity:" An intercultural dialogue between masks in Luigi Pirandello‘s and Penina Muhando’s plays (Part Two)

Authors

  • Cristina Nicolini University for Foreigners of Siena

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.13135/1825-263X/9527

Abstract

This paper stems from the challenge of translating Pirandello’s plays into Swahili and is aimed to open up a polylogue between Italian and Swahili literature.  Therefore, in searching for connections between Luigi Pirandello’s and Penina Muhando’s plays, this paper will explore multiple masks engaged in a reciprocal dialogue among the following six selected plays: Enrico IV (‘Henry IV,’ Pirandello 1921); Così è, Se vi pare (‘It is so, if you think so!’ Pirandello 1917); Il Berretto a Sonagli (‘Cap and bells,’ Pirandello 1916); Pambo (‘Decoration,’ Muhando 1975); Nguzo mama (‘The Mother Pillar,’ Muhando 1982); and Lina ubani (‘An Antidote to Rot,’ Muhando 1984). In conclusion, this study will illustrate how different forms of sociohistorical alienation, which encircle the twentieth century, are stylistically represented in these plays through the characters who wear the masks of madness, or ‘sage-madness.’ To allow an in-depth analysis of the plays this study will be divided into two parts. Part one will examine Enrico IV (‘Henry IV,’ Pirandello 1921) and Pambo (‘Decoration,’ Muhando 1975).  Part Two will examine Così è, Se vi pare (‘It is so, if you think so!’ Pirandello 1917); Nguzo mama (‘The Mother Pillar,’ Muhando 1982); Il Berretto a Sonagli (‘Cap and bells,’ Pirandello 1916); and Lina ubani (‘An Antidote to Rot,’ Muhando 1984).

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Author Biography

Cristina Nicolini, University for Foreigners of Siena

Cristina Nicolini, Ph.D. is a researcher working on Swahili literature and culture as well as African philosophy. She obtained a Bachelor’s degree in “Oriental and African Languages and Cultures—Arabic and Swahili” cum laude (“L’Orientale”, University of Naples); a Master’s degree in “Sciences of Languages, History and Cultures of Mediterranean and Islamic Countries” cum laude (“L’Orientale”, University of Naples); a II level Master’s degree in “Economics and Institutions of Islamic Countries” cum laude (LUISS Guido Carlo, Rome); and a PhD degree  in “African Languages and Cultures” (SOAS - School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London).

She has published articles in peer reviewed journals and a recent monograph: Nicolini, Cristina. 2022. Clash of Epistemes. Knowledge of HIV/AIDS in Swahili Literary Genres. Trieste: EUT.

Cristina Nicolini is currently teaching Swahili Language and African Cultures at the University for Foreigners of Siena.

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Published

2024-01-25

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