Naples: Shadows and Skyscrapers

Elena Greco, now a successful writer, returns to Naples and is struck by the city's unchanging violence and squalor, even as glass skyscrapers rise in the distance. The city's malaise mirrors the persistent struggles of her childhood neighborhood, where poverty, corruption, and violence are endemic. Elena's visits to her childhood friend Lila (Lina) are fraught with tension and nostalgia, as both women have aged and changed, yet the city and its social ills remain stubbornly the same. The chapter sets the stage for the intertwined fates of Elena and Lila, whose lives are shaped by the city's relentless pressures and their own ambitions.

Diverging Paths, Diverging Hearts

After childhood, Elena pursues education and literary success, while Lila, denied further schooling, marries young and is soon trapped in a cycle of abusive relationships and menial labor. Lila's intelligence and resourcefulness are stifled by her circumstances, while Elena's academic achievements and eventual engagement to Pietro Airota, a promising academic, open doors to a different world. Yet, both women remain haunted by their origins and by each other, their friendship a source of both strength and rivalry. The chapter explores how class, gender, and personal choices shape destinies.

Literary Triumphs and Insecurities

Elena's first novel, inspired by her experiences in Naples, is published to both acclaim and scathing criticism. The attention is both exhilarating and destabilizing, as Elena grapples with imposter syndrome and the fear of being exposed as a fraud. Her family's reaction is ambivalent, and the neighborhood gossips about her "dirty" book. Meanwhile, Lila, working in a sausage factory under brutal conditions, is both proud and envious of Elena's achievements. The chapter delves into the complexities of female ambition, the cost of success, and the persistent pull of the past.

Marriages, Mothers, and Modernity

Elena's engagement to Pietro is marked by cultural clashes between her working-class family and his intellectual, progressive parents. The wedding, a civil ceremony, is a battleground of expectations and resentments. Elena's mother is both proud and bitter, while Pietro's family is supportive but subtly patronizing. Lila, meanwhile, has left her abusive husband Stefano and is living with Enzo, raising her son Gennaro in poverty. Both women struggle with the demands of motherhood, the limitations of their partners, and the search for autonomy. The chapter examines the evolving roles of women in a changing Italy.

The Return of Nino

Nino Sarratore, Elena's childhood crush and Lila's former lover, reenters Elena's world as a charismatic academic and political activist. His presence reignites old passions and rivalries, as both women are drawn to his intelligence and ambition. Nino's relationships with women are fraught with betrayal and disappointment, and his inability to commit leaves a trail of heartbreak. Elena's encounter with Nino at a literary event in Milan is a turning point, exposing the fragility of her marriage and the unresolved tensions with Lila. The chapter explores the dangers of idealizing men and the complexities of female desire.

Political Upheaval, Personal Turmoil

The late 1960s and early 1970s are a time of political upheaval in Italy, with student protests, labor strikes, and the rise of radical movements. Elena, now living in Florence, is swept up in the intellectual and feminist ferment, attending meetings and reading revolutionary texts. Lila becomes involved in union organizing at the factory, facing harassment and violence. The neighborhood is a battleground between fascists and communists, and old friends are drawn into the conflict. The chapter highlights the intersection of the personal and the political, as both women struggle to find meaning and agency in a turbulent world.

Factories, Unions, and Violence

Lila's efforts to improve conditions at the sausage factory make her a target for both management and the local fascists. She organizes workers, confronts sexual harassment, and endures threats and physical attacks. The stress takes a toll on her health, leading to episodes of dissociation and panic. Enzo and Pasquale, her allies, are drawn into the escalating violence, and the neighborhood becomes increasingly dangerous. Elena, from a distance, tries to support Lila but is limited by her own obligations and insecurities. The chapter explores the costs of resistance and the limits of solidarity.

Lila's Descent and Defiance

Overworked and under constant threat, Lila experiences a breakdown, marked by hallucinations and a sense of dissolving boundaries. She is forced to leave the factory and relies on Elena and Enzo for support. Despite her suffering, Lila remains fiercely independent, refusing to be defined by her victimhood. Her relationship with Enzo deepens, and together they pursue new opportunities in the emerging field of computers. The chapter is a testament to Lila's resilience and the enduring power of friendship, even in the face of overwhelming adversity.

Elena's Rise and Restlessness

Elena's literary career flourishes, and she becomes a public intellectual, writing articles and speaking at events. Yet, she is plagued by self-doubt, the demands of motherhood, and the constraints of her marriage. Her relationship with Pietro grows strained, and she is drawn to the feminist movement, seeking new forms of expression and community. The gap between her public persona and private unhappiness widens, and she longs for the intensity and authenticity she associates with Lila and the neighborhood. The chapter explores the paradoxes of female achievement and the search for fulfillment.

The Neighborhood's Unforgiving Grip

Despite their efforts to escape, both Elena and Lila are repeatedly drawn back into the orbit of the neighborhood and its power structures. The Solaras, a family of local criminals, expand their influence, and old friends are caught up in cycles of violence and retribution. Lila's return to the neighborhood is both a homecoming and a defeat, as she confronts the ghosts of her past and the limitations of her present. Elena's visits are fraught with guilt and ambivalence, as she struggles to reconcile her new life with the loyalties and traumas of her youth.

Love, Betrayal, and Motherhood

Elena's affair with Nino becomes the catalyst for the unraveling of her marriage. Torn between passion and responsibility, she is forced to confront the consequences of her choices for herself and her children. Lila, too, navigates complex relationships with men, balancing her love for Enzo with her need for independence. Both women grapple with the demands of motherhood, the pain of betrayal, and the longing for connection. The chapter is a meditation on the costs of desire and the impossibility of having it all.

The Price of Ambition

Elena's pursuit of literary and personal fulfillment comes at the expense of her marriage, her children's stability, and her own peace of mind. Lila's drive to assert herself in the male-dominated world of business and technology leads to new opportunities but also new dangers, as she becomes entangled with the Solaras. The women's ambitions are both a source of empowerment and a cause of suffering, as they struggle to define themselves outside the roles assigned to them by family, society, and history.

Feminism, Friendship, and Fracture

Elena becomes involved in feminist circles, seeking solidarity and new ways of thinking about gender and power. Yet, the movement is riven by conflicts and exclusions, and Elena finds herself both inspired and alienated. Her friendship with Lila is tested by distance, misunderstanding, and the inability to fully share their experiences. The chapter explores the possibilities and limitations of female friendship, the challenges of collective action, and the enduring need for recognition and understanding.

The Solaras' Shadow

The Solaras' criminal empire casts a long shadow over the neighborhood and the lives of both women. Lila's professional success is tainted by her association with Michele Solara, whose obsession with her is both a threat and a source of power. Murders, betrayals, and vendettas escalate, implicating old friends and blurring the lines between victim and perpetrator. Elena is forced to confront the moral ambiguities of her own choices and the ways in which she, too, is complicit in the systems she seeks to escape.

The Collapse of Certainties

The deaths of key figures, the dissolution of marriages, and the unraveling of old alliances leave both women adrift. Elena's marriage to Pietro collapses under the weight of infidelity and unmet expectations. Lila's position in the neighborhood becomes increasingly precarious, as violence and betrayal multiply. The chapter is a reckoning with the limits of reason, the unpredictability of fate, and the necessity of forging new paths in the ruins of the old.

The Power of Words

For Elena, writing is both a means of escape and a source of torment. Her literary achievements bring her recognition but also expose her to criticism, envy, and self-doubt. The act of writing becomes a battleground for identity, as she struggles to assert her voice in a world that seeks to silence or appropriate it. Lila, too, is haunted by the power of words, both her own and those of others. The chapter explores the transformative and destructive potential of language, and the ways in which stories shape and are shaped by lived experience.

The Unraveling of Marriage

Elena's decision to leave Pietro for Nino is both a liberation and a catastrophe. The process of separation is fraught with pain, guilt, and uncertainty, as Elena confronts the impact on her children and the loss of her place in the world. Nino's unreliability and self-interest become increasingly apparent, and Elena is forced to reckon with the gap between fantasy and reality. Lila, meanwhile, continues to navigate the dangers and opportunities of her new role, refusing to be defined by her relationships with men. The chapter is a meditation on the costs and possibilities of starting over.

Choosing Desire, Facing Consequence

Elena's affair with Nino, once the fulfillment of a lifelong longing, quickly reveals its limitations and dangers. The realities of blended families, jealous spouses, and the demands of work and motherhood complicate the dream of happiness. Lila, too, must face the consequences of her choices, as her entanglement with the Solaras deepens and the neighborhood's violence escalates. Both women are forced to confront the limits of desire, the necessity of compromise, and the enduring power of their bond. The novel ends with the recognition that the struggle for selfhood and connection is ongoing, and that the past can never be fully escaped.

Characters

Elena Greco (Lenù)

Elena is the protagonist and narrator, whose journey from a poor Neapolitan neighborhood to literary and intellectual success is marked by both triumph and insecurity. Her relationship with Lila is the central axis of her life, a source of inspiration, rivalry, and self-measurement. Elena is introspective, driven, and often plagued by feelings of inadequacy, especially in comparison to Lila's raw intelligence and charisma. Her marriage to Pietro is both an escape and a new form of confinement, and her affair with Nino exposes the persistent gap between fantasy and reality. Elena's development is shaped by her struggle to reconcile ambition, love, motherhood, and the inescapable pull of her origins.

Raffaella Cerullo (Lila/Lina)

Lila is Elena's childhood friend and lifelong rival, whose extraordinary intelligence and willpower are stifled by poverty, sexism, and violence. Denied further education, Lila's life is a series of battles: abusive marriage, exploitative labor, and the constant threat of neighborhood violence. Her relationship with men is fraught with betrayal and disappointment, yet she refuses to be defined by victimhood. Lila's mental and physical health suffer under the weight of her struggles, but her resilience and defiance are unwavering. She is both a mirror and a challenge to Elena, embodying the possibilities and limits of female agency in a patriarchal world.

Pietro Airota

Pietro is Elena's husband, a promising academic from a prestigious family. He is principled, rational, and supportive of Elena's ambitions in theory, but in practice is often patronizing and emotionally unavailable. His inability to adapt to the changing political and social climate, and his rigid expectations of marriage and gender roles, contribute to the breakdown of his relationship with Elena. Pietro's struggles with professional and personal failure mirror the broader anxieties of the Italian middle class in a time of upheaval.

Nino Sarratore

Nino is the childhood crush of both Elena and Lila, whose intelligence, ambition, and charm make him a magnetic figure. His relationships with women are marked by passion, betrayal, and a refusal to commit. Nino's political activism and academic success are undercut by his self-interest and emotional evasiveness. For Elena, he represents both the fulfillment of a lifelong longing and the dangers of idealizing men. Nino's inability to provide stability or true partnership is a recurring source of disappointment and pain.

Enzo Scanno

Enzo is Lila's companion after her separation from Stefano, a former fruit seller who reinvents himself as a computer technician. His devotion to Lila and her son Gennaro is unwavering, and he provides a rare source of stability and support. Enzo's pursuit of education and professional advancement is a testament to the possibilities of self-transformation, even in the face of adversity. His relationship with Lila is marked by patience, respect, and a shared commitment to survival.

Pasquale Peluso

Pasquale is a childhood friend of Elena and Lila, a construction worker and committed Communist. His political activism leads him into dangerous territory, as the neighborhood becomes a battleground between fascists and leftists. Pasquale's idealism is both inspiring and self-destructive, and his fate is a sobering reminder of the costs of resistance in a violent world.

Adele Airota

Adele is Pietro's mother, a sophisticated and influential figure in the literary and academic world. She is both supportive and critical of Elena, offering guidance and resources while also imposing her own standards and expectations. Adele's presence is both a blessing and a burden, as Elena navigates the complexities of class mobility and the demands of her new family.

Gigliola Spagnuolo

Gigliola is a childhood acquaintance who marries into the Solara family, seeking security and status. Her life is marked by disappointment, betrayal, and the corrosive effects of the neighborhood's power structures. Gigliola's fate serves as a warning about the dangers of compromise and the limits of ambition in a world ruled by men.

Michele Solara

Michele is the younger Solara brother, a local crime boss whose obsession with Lila is both a source of power and vulnerability. His criminal enterprises and manipulation of those around him make him a formidable antagonist, and his relationship with Lila is a complex mix of desire, admiration, and control. Michele embodies the dark side of the neighborhood's patriarchal order.

Gennaro (Rino)

Gennaro is Lila's son, raised in difficult circumstances and caught between the competing influences of his mother, Enzo, and the neighborhood. His fate is a central concern for both Lila and Elena, representing the possibilities and dangers of the next generation. Gennaro's development is shaped by the choices and sacrifices of the women who care for him.

Plot Devices

Dual Narrative Structure: Intertwined Lives

The story is told through Elena's first-person perspective, but Lila's life is recounted in detail, often through Elena's imagination or secondhand reports. This dual narrative blurs the boundaries between self and other, past and present, and highlights the ways in which the women's identities are constructed in relation to each other. The structure allows for deep psychological exploration and the constant interplay of rivalry, admiration, and dependence.

Foreshadowing and Recurrence

The novel is rich in foreshadowing, with early incidents and motifs—violence, betrayal, ambition—reappearing in new forms as the story unfolds. The cyclical nature of the women's struggles, the persistence of neighborhood dynamics, and the recurrence of key figures (like Nino and the Solaras) create a sense of inevitability and entrapment. The use of foreshadowing heightens the tension and underscores the difficulty of true escape.

Social and Political Backdrop

The novel is set against the backdrop of postwar Italy, the economic boom, the rise of feminism, and the political violence of the 1970s. These events are not mere background but actively shape the characters' choices, opportunities, and relationships. The interplay between the personal and the political is a central theme, as the women's lives are both products and agents of historical change.

Letters, Books, and the Power of Writing

Writing is a central plot device, both as Elena's profession and as a means of communication, self-definition, and conflict. Letters, manuscripts, and published works are sources of pride, envy, and misunderstanding. The act of writing is both a way to assert control and a reminder of the limits of language. The novel interrogates the power and danger of words, both spoken and written.

Psychological Realism and Interior Monologue

The novel employs a style of psychological realism, with extended interior monologues that reveal the characters' fears, desires, and contradictions. The use of free indirect discourse and stream-of-consciousness techniques allows for a nuanced portrayal of the complexities of female friendship, ambition, and identity. The reader is drawn into the characters' inner worlds, experiencing their doubts and epiphanies in real time.

Analysis

Those Who Leave and Those Who Stay is a profound meditation on the complexities of women's lives in a patriarchal, class-stratified society. Through the intertwined stories of Elena and Lila, Ferrante explores the costs and possibilities of self-creation, the enduring power of friendship and rivalry, and the ways in which personal and political histories are inseparable. The novel interrogates the myths of meritocracy, the limitations of love and ambition, and the persistent grip of the past. It is a story about the struggle to define oneself in a world that seeks to define and confine women, and about the necessity—and impossibility—of true escape. Ferrante's unflinching honesty, psychological realism, and narrative virtuosity make this a landmark work of contemporary literature, offering readers both a mirror and a challenge: to see themselves in the struggles of others, and to imagine new ways of being.

Last updated: May 20, 2025