Bestiary Images of Federigo Tozzi (Beasts and With Closed Eyes)

Abstract

Observation of animals in the works of Federigo Tozzi, one of the greatest modernist writers in 20th-century Italian literature, primarily holds ontological significance. According to the writer’s beliefs, it is the only way to approach the mystery of creation, the meaning of which is, at the same time, unknowable. Initiation into this mystery unites humans with the world of nature and its representatives. It deters them from the arrogance associated with the illusion of the superiority of human civilization over other forms of life. In the book Beasts, the exploration of the enigmatic life of nature through encounters with animals opens for the lyrical hero the path to understanding his soul. The appearance of animals in 69 scenes can carry a different semantic load. At times, animals serve as a reminder that the lyrical hero is not allowed access to the secret of existence. Occasionally, they rescue the hero from perilous dreams and bring him back to reality. By emphasizing bestial traits in the characters of his novels and stories, Tozzi aims to align them with representatives of the animal world. In the novel With Closed Eyes, people reveal themselves as beasts who have lost their connection with nature and inner harmony. Essentially, the joyless existence of the novel’s characters has as little value for them as the lives of the animals they torment.

Keywords

• italian literature
• bestiary images
• animals
• federigo tozzi
• bestialization
• autobiographical prose
• modernism
• expressionism