"Mothers, Daughters, and Motherhood in ""Una Donna"" by Sibilla Aleramo, ""Lettera a Un Bambino Mai Nato"" by Oriana Fallaci, and ""La Cattiva Figlia"" by Carla Cerati"

"This study emphasizes the mother/daughter relationship and the ""sense"" of motherhood as reflected in the novels Una donna by Sibilla Aleramo, Lettera a un bambino mai nato by Oriana Fallaci, and La cattiva figlia by Carla Cerati. Motherhood, an aspect of women's life traditionally considered ""private"" is also used, through the narration of these stories, to affirm the political and social self of the narrator. Historical changes in the social landscape as well as a feminist approach to psychoanalysis and philosophy contribute to determine that the mother/daughter relationship and the ""sense"" of motherhood are not immutable aspects in the life of these narrators, but have been subjected to continuous changes through the times. This study focuses therefore on the experiences of motherhood and the mother/daughter relationship as represented in specific time period: Una donna was published in 1906; its historical background coincides with the period of post-Unification and the first phase of historical feminism in Italy. Lettera a un bambino mai nato was published in 1975, at the peak of the second phase of historical feminism in Italy when abortion became a political issue to determine equality of rights for women. La cattiva figlia was published in 1990; but this story as well echoes the tumult of the Seventies in Italy. The three autobiographies show also how each narrator needs to learn again about her mother's life, an experience that enhances the construction of their new role as mothers."

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Italian

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2015

Author dc:creator

• Maenza-Vanderboegh, Maria Teresa

Contributors dc:contributor

• Musumeci, Antonino

• Women's Studies

Language dc:language

ita

Identifier

(MiAaPQ)AAI3070028

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/86117