La Monaca di Monza

Right from the title, the reader can notice the using of the determinate article, that underlines the uniqueness of character that is explain in the text. As a consequence, the reader may be curious to find out what consists the uniqueness of the Monaca di Monza. 

 Just considering the first paragraph, the writer starts the characterization with giving some information of the Monaca’s reputation. He explains that her family has power in Monza, thus the reader understands the importance of social background in middle age. Indeed, in the convent the other nuns call her “signora”, that conveys she is respectable and unique.   

In the following line the reader understands that the poet begins to reveal the character. Indeed, the setting is the metonymy. The complex access to the Signora’s room refers to her complex personality, also connoted by the harsh sounds. When Lucia and her mother are in the second garden, the guardian gives some warning about the behaviour to have with the Signora. It highlights the importance of the Monaca. 

When they are in locutory, they can watch the Monaca. The writer begins to present her with the posture. She stays straight, that means she has self-confidence. The reader can notice that the port describes the unusual qualities for a nun, so to underline the uniqueness of the Monaca di Monza. Furthermore, the unusual qualities and the complex personality of the Signora create a climate of mystery. 

In the following lines the writer focuses the reader’s attention on the veil and the skins. Firstly, the writer explains the veil covered the Signora and he put the attention on the contrast of colour black and white. Then he tells about the contrast created by the black eyes and white face. The writer uses the contrast to refer to contrast in the Monaca and it gives strength to the climate of mystery. As a consequence, the reader may be curious to know the Monaca’s story. 

The poet creates the characterization of round character through the showing technique and he takes the reader attention through the setting and mystery around the Monaca di Monza.