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Adolescence: Chapter 8
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
At the end of middle school, Lenù passes her exams with the best grades in the entire school—even better than Alfonso. Her father praises her greatly, and even her mother congratulates Lenù by letting her wear one of her nice silver bracelets out one day. In the courtyard, however, no one is impressed by Lenù’s grades or her bracelet—the only thing that matters there, Lenù says, are “love and boyfriends.” Lila isn’t particularly impressed by Lenù’s grades, and Lenù knows that Lila is indignant because if she had been allowed to continue in school, she would have surpassed even Lenù with ease.
This passage shows that in spite of Lenù’s belief that doing well in school will open up new avenues for her, her academic successes actually mean little to those around her. “Love and boyfriends” are the currency of the neighborhood—and Ferrante will go on to show how Lenù and Lila respectively adapt to that fact.
Themes
Lila’s indifference makes Lenù feel sad and pathetic. When Lenù’s parents begin talking about getting her a position in a local shop, she feels even worse. As she looks at herself in the mirror that evening, she is disgusted by how her body has changed, how her hair has turned from blonde to brown, and how her face has sprouted clouds of acne.
The changes Lenù feels happening in her body reflect the changes in her friend group’s concerns and ideals. Lenù is uncomfortable with both—and resentful of always feeling one step behind.
Themes
One Sunday, Lenù receives an invitation in the mail from Maestro Ferraro summoning her to the library. When she arrives, she sees that a small crowd has gathered—the principal and Maestra Oliviero are among the families and students. Lenù learns that Ferraro has had an idea for a ceremony to honor those who borrow the most frequently from the library. The winners of the ceremony are called out: Rafaella Cerullo, Fernando Cerullo, Nunzia Cerullo, Rino Cerullo, and, in fifth, Elena Greco—Lenù herself. Lenù receives a book as a prize. She offers to take the Cerullos’ books with her to give to them herself, as none of them are in attendance.
As Lenù attends the ceremony at the library, it becomes clear to her just how devoted Lila still is to educating herself. Lila has gamed the system which allows residents of the neighborhood to take out just one book at a time—as a result, she is the biggest borrower from the library (and, Lenù realizes, likely even more well-read than she herself is.)
Themes
Pasquale Peluso, Carmela’s older brother, is also in attendance. He jokes with Lenù about the Cerullo family’s devoted reading habits and asks to come along with her as she delivers the prizes. Lenù is flattered by the attention. When Maestra Oliviero calls Lenù over, she chats with her old teacher. Maestra Oliviero asks what Lenù is doing now that middle school is over. When Lenù says she is going to work, Maestra Oliviero tells Lenù that she must go on studying instead, and she even volunteers to speak to the Grecos herself. Lenù thanks her teacher, but as she starts to walk away, Maestra Oliviero warns Lenù not to “waste” her time with Pasquale, who is a construction worker and a Communist whose father was responsible for the murder of Don Achille. However, this only makes Lenù more excited about Pasquale.
In this passage, Ferrante shows how Maestra Oliviero remains an important presence in Lenù’s life—and an important force in the continuation of her education. Maestra Oliviero is invested in making sure that Lenù chases down the opportunities available to her and doesn’t become sidetracked by young men who will keep her from her dreams.
Themes
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Lenù rejoins Pasquale and walks with him down the street. They make a plan to visit Lila at Fernando’s shop the next day and bring her all the books she won. Pasquale also asks if Lenù would like to come to Gigliola’s house for a little dance the following Sunday—he suggests she bring Lila along. Lenù asks Pasquale if he’ll always be a construction worker; he tells her he will. She asks if Pasquale is a Communist; he tells her he is. She asks if he visits his father in prison; he says he goes every chance he gets. Lenù bids Pasquale goodbye.
This passage shows that Lenù is investigating her romantic prospects—as drawn as she is to Pasquale, she knows there is something to be said for Maestra Oliviero’s prediction that settling down with the wrong boy could sideline her dreams. Still, Lenù is grateful for the attention—and seemingly willing to risk everything for more of it.
Themes
