Modernist myths. A comparison between La cognizione del dolore and Ulysses

Abstract

Following a typical scheme of the nineteenth-century novel, La cognizione del dolore begins in a traditional way by depicting the temporal, spatial and socio-economical background of the imaginary country Maradagal. This traditional structure, however, is immediately contradicted by two digressions regarding the geographical location that deconstruct the consistency of the opening paragraph. Clearly, it is hard not to be distracted by such digressions. Some characters will return, even in secondary episodes, others will only live in these initial descriptions. A number of critics have given great importance to Gadda's decision to dedicate so much space to the story of Pedro Mahagones-Palumbo. Although different interpretations are quite convincing, I believe one of the most important reasons for such a decision is represented by Gadda's relevance for our own times: he is, even if unwittingly, a modernist writer.