Me ne lavo le mani». La giustizia e il suo rovescio nel capitolo III dei «Promessi sposi»

Chapter III of "I promessi sposi" introduces the important theme of the reversal oj justice, of which the dialogue between Renzo and dottor Azzecca-garbugli is especially representative. The "unstable irony" (Booth) expressed by the narrator towards dottor Azzecca-garbugli re-establisced the truth, but at the same time tells the truth above Renzo, who is equally culpable (albeit with good cause) of having threatened a curate. In comparing dottor Azzxecca-garbugli to Pontius Pilate ("me ne lavo le mani"; "I wash my hands of him"), the narrator recalls a similar temptation to which he himself was exposed in the "Introduzione", but which he succeeded in resisting. In so doing he invites the reader as well to adopt a similar attitude, one of involvement rather than disengagement; which is one way in which to bring about that justice, the reversal of which is presented in this chapter.