Le conversioni silenti

The section explores the two nights lived by the protagonists of the “I Promessi Sposi”: the night during which Renzo crosses the Adda river and the night spent by Lucia in the Innominato's castle. The symmetry of the organization of the two episodes triggers some analytical and synthetical considerations (see the table with the synopsis of the two episodes): when searching for the meaning of the two episodes an hypothesis of a hidden meaning written between the lines arises, in contrast with the narration. An hypothesis that leads us to explore the mysticism of XVIIth century, in particular the “Il cantico Spirituale” by San Giovanni della Croce. This interpretation might cast a new light on the whole of Manzoni's novel.