Anniversary Of Death Invitations

"Chesil Beach" by Ian Mcewan

"They were young, fresh studies and both still virgins and children of a time in which to deal with sexual problems voice was simply impossible."

So begins "Chesil Beach" British author Ian McEwan's tenth novel set in England in July 1962 on the Dorset coast in front of the vast expanse of pebbles from Chesil Beach. Florence, a promising violinist wealthy family, and Edward, a modest town of modest family are on their honeymoon.

"They were still time, intended to expire at the end of that famous decade, when being young was a social encumbrance, a mark of irrelevance, a condition of slight embarrassment for which marriage was the beginning of therapy. Roughly strangers, there they were, strangely set up a new peak of existence, delighted at the thought that their status recently allowed to push on the bright path of endless youth, Edward and Florence, free at last! "

Free at last ... Before '68 is coming out of her parents' home only after they were married and virginity was a moral obligation enshrined in Holy Mother Church to whom it was difficult to ignore. Those who approach marriage without being so had little chance of finding a husband. Ancient times, but not much. Reality perhaps they would like us to go back.

The two young protagonists of the book, if you love so much and say so repeatedly in the prelude to the wedding night. The two men finally dine alone. but under the eyes of the waiters, on thinking about what will happen a little later: They know that night "would be lying on the bed canopy to show some sort of naked" . It is clear she fears that knows very little about what to expect, like any girl of her class and of his generation.

comes a time when they move into the bedroom. The coldness and the reluctance of her increase awkwardness of him, McEwan tells their difficulties maintaining a perfect balance between the mild humor of the observer who describes the scene and compassion for the ignorance and inexperience of those still young at a time when the word was spoken or not sex at all or, if it happened, it was with great embarrassment.

not know their bodies, their reactions. She does not want to disappoint the expectations of her husband, but at the same time does not have the courage to express his anguish, his reluctance, to Edward have no words to communicate the anxiety of being unable to contain his desire and the fear of not to interpret the signs of a body as another unknown and mysterious galaxy.

should have learned to speak, to take account of their physiological and cultural diversity, their fears and above all have patience, being able to wait to get to know the language of the body but also the other to find harmony The tune to live in a beautiful and peaceful intercourse. Should know the delicacy of the moment, to have respect for other people to prevent the frustration of turning into bankruptcy, the failure to anger, anger into bitterness. Should be that there were no pre-established models that suggest how you should be for men or for women, but it turns out paino floor as you know in a dialogue in cui uno ascolta l’altro senza prevaricarlo.

Ma questo atteggiamento non c’è e ne consegue il fallimento e la frustrazione. Lei confessa le sue difficoltà, la sua repulsione, lui contrattacca e l’accusa: “ Tu mi hai ingannato. A ben guardare, sei una bugiarda. E sei anche qualcos’altro, se proprio lo vuoi sapere. Sai cosa sei. Irrimediabilmente frigida.” Sospetta di lei “Però hai creduto che ti servisse un marito, e io sono il primo coglione che ti è capitato”. “Ma soprattutto, lei aveva tradito la promessa pronunciata in pubblico, in una chiesa”.

Anche lei se ne convince. “Anche ai propri occhi ora Florence non valeva niente, come anche a quelli di lui” E tra loro si scava un abisso. A lei rimane che andarsene, correre via. " In un parossismo di rabbia e vergogna, saltò giù dal letto. Intanto, l’altra metà di lei, quella dell’osservatrice, sembrava dirle pacata, senza ricorrere alle parole, Ecco, questo è esattamente ciò che si prova a diventare pazzi. Florence non riusciva a guardarlo. Restare in una stanza con una persona che la conosceva in questa veste, era una tortura. Raccolse le scarpe da terra, attraversò di corsa il soggiorno, oltre le rovine della loro cena, si precipitò in corridoio, e giù per le scale; poi uscì, svoltò l’angolo dell’albergo and went through the green meadow. "

" I, in those years, I was there - Irene Bignardi says about "the Republic - and, unless due and fortunate exceptions, I can testify that it was so, and even worse: the fear, anxiety, lack of knowledge, the body is not comfortable with themselves and others, the social silence and shame that staff does not help to get rid of. Ian McEwan was not there, or was thirteen years old, and it is the virtue of the writers know how to reconstruct reality through the minute clues in the bigger picture "