Chapter 13: Delirium
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Summary:
Pelagia and her father, Dr. Iannis, return from the All Saints feast. Both are
drunk. The Doctor falls fast asleep, while Pelagia remains awake, thinking
over and over the fact that Mandras has proposed to him. She has sweet
dreams about his dearly beloved, however, a looming doubt appears: Was she
really in love? If she was to be married, would Mandras make a good husband?
She analyses marriage in her village, and decides that it is one of the most
important steps in life, apart from having children.
The next morning she gives herself chores nearby the road that takes to her
house as to see Mandras as soon as he approached. However, he does not
appear at all, to the unrest of the young lady’s soul. She finds Lemoni, a small
girl of six, who plays in the forest. She has a brief conversation with her, and,
later returns to her home. She finds her father and talk about her possible
marriage. He tells her that Mandras is still too young and is not as skilled as
she is. They talk about possibly moving to another country, but soon drop this
issue to talk about the breaking war. Dr. Iannis gives her daughter as gun to
defend herself whenever she is threatened. She keeps it under her pillow.
The next day Mandras is still not seen, and Pelagia’s despair grows, as she tells
herself that Mandras is cruel. On the third day after the feast, Pelagia goes
down to the sea. She thinks Mandras deserves to be put in the same sentence as
dictators, because of his indifference. She finds a naked fisherman in the sea.
She is hypnotised by this figure. She then finds out is Mandras. She is
perplexed by his beauty, and feels fortunate to see what is hers before the
marriage. She compares her fiancé with a sea nymph, and remembers a myth
that tells that watching sea nymphs drove women to delirium. Mandras is
feeding three dolphins. Pelagia returns home, waiting for Mandras, who finally
appears. He brings fish to her. He excuses himself for not coming before
because in the first day he was sick, and the next day he had to go to
Argostoli. He confesses to his love that he is going out to war, and she cries
and tells him to decline. They embrace, as Pelagia thinks that watching sea
nymphs not only bring delirium, but, at times, death.
Chapter 14: Grazzi
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Summary:
This chapter offers the view of the Italian ambassador to Greece on the
events leading to the war. He begins his story by saying that he regrets the
fact that people often lead themselves towards the disapproval of history,
against his own will and nature. He tells us that he and general Mondini were
uninformed by Mussolini, Ciano and Badoglio. The ambassador is much
disconcerted with the position of his country, he feels embarrassed. He tells
us that he kept attending parties and cocktails despite the fact that his country
would be declaring war to Greece. In one occasion, He and Mondini were
surprised by telegrams when they were in the middle of an opera. He feels
cheated by his government and is concerned by what will happen to Greeks
and fellow Italians in the country. The surprising thing in this chapter is that
the ambassador, whose name is not revealed, is like confessing to the reader
what his feelings were at the moment. This occurs especially during his
interview with Prime Minister Metaxas.
Metaxas receives the ambassador. The Greek minister is worn out and is
described as a little man, who was feeble and exhausted. The ambassador
almost felt sorry for him. Their dialogue is in French. The ambassador gives
the ultimatum to let Italian troops into strategic points in Greece, or else be
invaded. They both know the last command will be done. The ambassador is
almost moved by the courage displayed by the minister. He refers this to be
Greece’s finest hour, and the most dishonourable one of Italy. He finishes by
saying: “There it is. I hope you are satisfied”.
Chapter 15: L’Ommosessuale (4)
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Summary:
Carlo Guercio talks about the terrible hardships Italian soldiers had to endure
during their initial campaign in Greece. He and Francesco felt mutual
isolation and everyone felt sad at the front because they had just started a
war. They received medals for their actions, but Carlo still felt betrayed by
the Italian army. The only reason he remained a soldier was because of his
love to Francesco. Carlo and Francesco were given a week to train a hundred
Albanians, to their consternation and disbelief. Carlo mocks about the
simplicity and dumbness of his subordinates. The war finally broke out as
Italians dressed as Greeks, as to have an excuse for Italian aggression
destroyed more Italian posts.
Then Carlo starts his journal about what happened during the first days of the
invasion. The Italians are hopeful, sing hymns, and say they will be in Athens
in two weeks. However, the weather gets cold and it rains. They are soaked
and their advance is slower. There is still no attack from the Greeks and
Carlo wonders if they had chickened out. He complains about puttees. The
landscape becomes mountainous and the conditions worsen. Francesco says:
“Athens in two months”. On November 1st, the Greeks kill their corporal and
bomb their position. It was a trap. Desperation spreads. Francesco now says:
“ Athens in two years”. Italian troops now eat their dead horses. Their supply
lines have been cut off. Their situation is unbearable and start the retreat to
Konitsa. Carlo curses Mussolini and calls him an incandescent fart. They
return to their starting point having lost a fifth of their 10,000 squad.
Although they are praised for their bravery as being from marble, Francesco
asks if marble in the Golgotha (the hill where Christ was crucified) bleeds,
with the sorrow and near-madness of the defeated army.
Chapter 16: Letters to Mandras at
the front
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Summary:
In this chapter, Pelagia writes three letters to Mandras at the front.
In the first one, the girl is deeply concerned about Mandras not answering back her letters. She feels
hopeless with each passing day and no answer. She asks if he is not nostalgic about her and the sea and
the dolphins. She tells him that they are running short of some things like kerosene or flour because of
the war. She comments on how desolated is the village without the young men and is terrified at the
thought of losing him. She tells him about the gun her father gave her. She has been going to Church
quite a lot. She talks about how the British are the greatest empire the world has seen and how they
will help Greece win the war. She even despises the US, France and Russia. She feels Greece will win
the war because of the good news coming from the front. She tells everyone praises Metaxas great
leadership and valour. Her father offered to be a doctor at the front, but was turned down because he
was an illegal doctor with no papers. She comments about the fortune –telling going on since the
outbreak of war and what has happened to Italians in Greece. She says that Psipsina and the goat are
well, and she has started her dowry. She has begun to crochet the cover for their bed and a waistcoat
for him. She is concerned about the Italian bombing of Corfu and that he has not written to his mother,
as well. She tells him to write to her because his mother is suffering from his absence. Their Christmas
was sad and poor. She finishes the letter by expressing her love. She says that Mandras absence is as
though she has lost a limb.
The second letter is shorter. Mandras has yet to write. It is St. Basil’s Day. She received a book of
poetry from her father. She gave him a clasp knife. She has restarted the bedcover because she has
done it wrong. She does not know what has happened to her recently. She talks about Greece’s success
at the front and the concern over the bad health of Metaxas. She comments on the new war poster of
the Virgin helping a Greek soldier. Dr. Iannis has made his moustache larger to feel more patriotic.
She finishes by suggesting Mandras to write to his mother.
The third letter is even shorter. She expresses her uncertainty over the lack of answer from her love.
She tells Mandras that her neighbour Kokolios has lost two sons and her father has shaved off his
moustache because he thinks it is similar to Hitler’s. Everyone is saddened by Metaxas death, but are
sure Papagos will lead them to victory. Easter will be meagre as they do not have any of the usual
ingredients of this feast. She says that the bedcover was dirtied by Psipsina and half-eaten by the goat,
so it had to be unpicked again. She hopes him the best of luck and to remain cheerful.