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Adolescence: Chapter 19
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in My Brilliant Friend, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Female Friendship
Masculine vs. Feminine Violence
Women’s Work
Poverty, Social Climbing, and Sacrifice
The Uses of Community
Love, Sex, and Strategy
Summary
Analysis
As New Year’s Eve approaches, Rino becomes determined to set off the biggest fireworks display in the neighborhood—bigger, even, than the Solaras’ yearly show. Lila confides in Lenù that she believes Rino has begun to count on the idea of making money from the shoes “too heavily.” Lila notices that an aggressive, braggadocious side of Rino's personality has begun to emerge. Lila blames herself for planting a "fantasy" in her brother's head, but Lenù points out that Rino is probably trying to make a show of strength because Marcello has been hanging around the shop lately.
Rino’s motivations in launching a huge fireworks display are complicated—he wants to show his dominance over Marcello Solara, who threatens his sister’s independence, but he also wants to use the fireworks to signal to everyone, not just the Solaras, that the Cerullos are moving up in the neighborhood. Lila worries about Rino contributing to the cycles of violence and shows of dominance that already rule their neighborhood.
Themes
Fireworks have long been tied to displays of wealth in the neighborhood—the wealthiest families can afford to set off grand shows, while families like Lenù and Lila’s usually just buy some sparklers. Rino begins collecting money from neighbors and friends to put toward his own display, caught up in a “frenzy for grandeur”—but the Solaras continue amassing fireworks of their own, and Lenù and Lila know that Rino will never catch up.
Fireworks are a symbol of Rino’s desire for social mobility—but they are also a symbol of the entrenched social rules of the neighborhood and those rules’ resistance to change.
Themes
After visiting the Carracci’s grocery store together one day, Lenù and Lila are surprised when Stefano follows them out of the store and invites Lenù to come celebrate New Year’s at his family’s house—Alfonso, his younger brother and Lenù’s schoolmate, will be “pleased.” Lenù says that she is going to Lila’s, so Stefano invites Lila’s family as well. Lila retorts that the Pelusos are coming over too, knowing that the son of Don Achille will not invite the family of his father’s suspected murderer. Stefano surprises them, however, by offering to host the Pelusos happily. Lila tells Stefano she’ll talk to her brother about it—if Stefano plans to supply a lot of fireworks.
Lila and Lenù are anxious about Rino’s attempt to change the neighborhood’s rules—or at least flout them—by setting off a grand fireworks display. They believe his plan will never work. However, when they realize that Stefano is also trying to change things they begin to wonder if there is really hope for a change in the status quo.
Themes
