Vasco Pratolini's Quest for Paradise

The main emphasis of this study is on a thematic approach to Vasco Pratolini's quest for Paradise as a means of escaping a nihilistic view of history. Pratolini lived through the rise and fall of Fascism. He believed that his art should carry a didactic message and be capable of transforming evil historical events. Like many Neorealist writers, Pratolini incorporated a theological interpretation of history in his works. He merged Judeo-Christian beliefs with Communist dogma with the outcome being hope in an eschatological Age of Gold which was physically possible on earth.

In this study Pratolini's novels from 1939 to 1966 are examined. With respect to the totality of his works, it becomes evident that Pratolini's quest was ultimately a search for truth, which was nurtured by his profound belief in the Resistance Movement. But after the collapse of the Fascist regime and the rebirth of Fascism, Pratolini realized that his attempt to lead a cultural transformation of Italian society was illusory. This resulted in an existential and literary crisis in his novels from 1947 to 1960. The last chapter of this study concludes with a discussion of Pratolini's novel Allegoria e derisione and a potential resolution of his existential crisis.