Immorality In Nino Ricci's Lives Of The Saints

The inability to take responsibility for immoral actions causes destruction. Nino Ricci’s Lives of the Saints tells the story of a young boy whose life drastically changes due to his mother’s infidelity. Throughout the novel, Cristina’s attitude toward her sin becomes a prevalent matter as it starts to damage aspects of her and her family’s life. Cristina’s excessive pride and arrogance lead to her choice to stay silent and proud, which results in its destructive nature.
Through Cristina’s immorality and arrogance, Vittorio’s innocence becomes fragile. He begins to grow more maturely through the challenges he faces. A critical review from A Circle of Clarity states, “It is impossible, therefore, to protect Vitto from the encircling consequences

of his mother’s sin.” Due to Cristina’s inability to repent her wrongdoings, Vittorio is a witness to certain situations which exposes him to falseness and unfamiliar emotions. Although maturity is an important factor in one’s growth, it is an unessential circumstance as Vittorio is entitled to an innocent childhood. In one scene, Cristina and Vittorio talk to Luciano’s wife at their restaurant who acts abrasive towards Cristina: “..it was the thought of her having seen my mother’s anger that made me burn more than anything now, the thought of the large, falso smile she would light for us then if she returned, like someone who had won an argument,” (Ricci 70). Vittorio’s pride is revealed through these situations. He begins to discover emotions such as anger and becomes more aware of the falseness around him, which progresses his maturity. Throughout the novel, Vittorio’s innocence slowly disperses as he is able to perceive his own emotions: “...but in the midst of my attack I suddenly felt my rage ebbing, giving way to a vague fear, not simply fear of being beaten up but a fear of my own violence…” (Ricci 107). During this scene, Vittorio gets into a fight with Vincenzo. Cristina’s victimization she receives over her infidelity and her pride, causes Vittorio’s development of a protective nature towards his mother. Through this, he also begins to become more aware of himself and the changes he’s going through.
The hubristic mindset Cristina harbours, damages her personal relationships. The relationships in the novel start to change as the novel progresses. Critic Roy MacSkimming indicates, “Their relationships among Vittorio, his mother, his grandfather and their entire village (his father is away working in Canada) begin to change-mysteriously at first, then with increasing rapidity and violence.” As a result of Cristina’s decision to unacknowledge the severity of her actions and the consequences, she becomes alienated and her relationships with her family begin to decline. Throughout the novel, Cristina chooses to remain prideful and silent, ignoring not only the people of Valle De Sole, but her family as well. In one particular scene, Cristina, Vittorio and his grandfather sit together at the dinner table, but no one says a word: “When he did come, he remained walled up in his stony silence, his head bowed over his plate, while my mother sat turned away from him crosswise, her legs never under the table, as if she expected at any moment to have to rise up suddenly on some errand,” (Ricci 133). Vittorio’s grandfather stops eating dinner with Vittorio and Cristina. His unmistakable anger at Cristina’s egotistical attitude develops the fractures in their relationship. Vittorio notices the irrefutable tension and the change in the atmosphere. However, Cristina is unregretful of her sin that results in the damage of not only hers, but the people around her lives’ as well. Vittorio’s grandfather continuously directs his anger on Cristina, who does not apologize for her actions, thus breaking their relationship as father and daughter. Next, the relationship between Vittorio and Cristina becomes strained. Although Vittorio develops a protective stance over his mother and progresses maturely, the relationship he once had with his mother changes. For instance, Vittorio states, “..but the passing days brought only a growing awkwardness, as if my mother and I had suddenly become strangers, with no words now to bridge the silence between us,” (Ricci 75). In the beginning of the novel, the relationship between Vittorio and Cristina reflect a more intimate and close kinship, as a mother and son would usually have. But as Cristina’s infidelity becomes more prevalent, their relationship begins to slowly damage itself.
Moreover, Cristina’s pride demolishes her family name.

Cristina’s father is the unofficial mayor of Valle De Sole. Although it’s a town full of hypocrisy and traditionalistic standards, the Innocentes, who reject or pretend to believe in the accustomed values, are presented as a family with a higher reputation. As the novel progresses, the impact Cristina’s immorality has, escalates rapidly. Vittorio’s grandfather directs his anger of his shattered reputation on Cristina: “I wish that you died and rotted in the womb, that you haven’t lived long enough to bring this disgrace on my name,” (Ricci 149). Cristina continuously shows no shame in her infidelity, which brings humiliation onto her family’s name. In another scene, as Cristina, her father and Vittorio head to church, Vittorio realizes the quietness that happens around them: “But as they came up behind us, overtaking us because of my grandfather’s slow pace, their voices went suddenly quiet,” (Ricci 143). Cristina’s arrogance leads to the destruction of their family’s notoriety. They were once highly respected, but as word of Cristina’s affair escalates, people become intertwined with the gossip and take this opportunity to engage themselves into oppressing Cristina and her family. Critic Stephen Amidon points out, “They set about ostracizing the fiery Cristina Innocente, yet she resolutely refuses to apologize for her condition, further angering the locals.” Cristina’s arrogance angers the townspeople. As a result, they begin to not only ostracise Cristina, but also her father. Their reputation slowly deteriorates as people start to lose the respect they had for Cristina’s father because of her actions and her

attitude.
The consequences of refusing to accept responsibilities on a decision can become destructive. Cristina’s outrageous refusal manifests the idea of the effects pride and arrogance can have. The destructive nature shows how it spreads and continues to affect other people and aspects of their lives. In and of itself, pride and arrogance can be just as dangerous and toxic as poison.