Donna Maria Carracci Character Analysis in My Brilliant Friend

Donna Maria is Don Achille’s wife and Stefano, Pinuccia, and Alfonso’s mother. She runs the grocery store and works alongside Stefano and Pinuccia, and sometimes Alfonso when school is out. Maria and her daughter Pinuccia share a dislike of Lila once she and Stefano get engaged—they accuse her of trying to act like a moneyed lady even before the marriage. Together, Maria and Pinuccia try to make things as difficult as possible for Lila throughout preparations for the event.

Donna Maria Carracci Character Timeline in My Brilliant Friend

The timeline below shows where the character Donna Maria Carracci appears in My Brilliant Friend. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...Stefano’s cruelty, picks a fight with Stefano and the two boys beat each other. Donna Maria, Don Achille’s wife, comes to the Cerullos’ door to shout at Nunzia. On Sunday, after... (full context)

...door, Lenù feels her heart pounding in her chest. Lila fearlessly rings the doorbell. Donna Maria answers the door and begins calling for Alfonso, believing the girls are there to see... (full context)

Donna Maria calls for her husband—dinner is ready. Don Achille reaches into his pants pocket and pulls... (full context)

...Stefano’s fiancée makes her the subject of envy and ire throughout the neighborhood. Stefano’s mother Maria and his sister Pinuccia especially begin to treat Lila with suspicion and dislike. They don’t... (full context)

...handling the wedding preparations on her own—but as Lila navigates tense interactions with Pinuccia and Maria, who have come to see Lila as a pauper playing at being a fine mistress,... (full context)

One day, Lenù accompanies Lila, Pinuccia, and Maria to a wedding dress shop in town. Whichever dresses Lila likes, Pinuccia and Maria disparage;... (full context)

...has granted one of her childhood wishes. Rino, Lila, and Fernando summon Stefano, Pinuccia, and Maria to see the shoes, and the Carraccis are amazed by them as well—though Stefano believes... (full context)

Stefano decides that the speech master at the wedding will be a relative of Donna Maria’s—but just a few weeks before the wedding, he changes his mind. He refuses to tell... (full context)