Antonio Cappuccio Character Analysis

Antonio is the eldest son of Melina Cappuccio. Antonio works as a mechanic and is a part of Lenù’s extended friend group in the neighborhood, though he is a couple of years older than her. Antonio is protective of his fragile mother, Melina, and he’s self-conscious and defensive about his family’s abject poverty. He’s also generally sensitive to the moods and problems of those around him. Antonio is often flirtatious with Lenù during their friend group’s outings, and during the summer of Lenù’s 15th year, he officially asks her to be his girlfriend. Antonio is a loyal boyfriend, and he and Lenù see each other nearly every day during the summer, exploring each other’s bodies and growing closer—even as Lenù secretly pines for Nino and makes plans to break up with Antonio after Lila’s wedding. Lenù uses Antonio to make herself feel better about Lila’s having found an older fiancé—she believes that in emulating Lila’s actions, she herself will be fulfilled. Antonio suffers as he begins to realize that Lenù is simply using him for many things—to ward off Donato Sarratore, who has returned to the neighborhood to profess his love for Lenù; to stave off Lenù’s own complicated desire for Donato’s son, Nino; and to compete with her best friend and rival, Lila. Kind, helpful, and yet deeply insecure, Antonio becomes an important emotional pillar for Lenù in the second half of the novel—even as she finds that he fails to produce in her the romantic feelings she is desperate to feel.