Truth and Brotherhood
What is the significance of the title? Not surprisingly, perhaps, it is a metaphor. Surprisingly, perhaps, one of the character outlines its symbolic meaning in a very straightforward way. Bread is made of many grains and wine of many grape clusters; a unity of equal things. With that in mind, the metaphor of bread and wine stands for “truth and brotherhood, things that go well together.”
Translation Nuances
Metaphor can be a prickly thing to deal with when translating a text from one language into another. Consider for instance, how the exact same line in the original sentence composed by the author is treated in two different translations into English. The changes still essentially describe the same thing, but the difference in connotation is striking:
“His gigantic stature reminded Don Paolo of a geological specimen, a fossilized antediluvian monster.”
“His huge bones reminded one of a geological element, like a fossilized prehistoric animal.”
“Freedom is not something you get as a present.”
This particular metaphorical declaration expressed by the novel’s protagonist, the political agitator and revolutionary firebrand Pietro Spina, could very well stand as its motto. At the very least, it is the foundation of its thematic concept.
Transformation of the Devil
The revolution in question is a socialist one. The devil still exists, but has changed the form he takes to entice men to do evil. In the world of the 20th century, evil reveals itself in a quite familiar form:
“Greed for property. It’s like a chain on a dog. The devil used to take the form of a woman. Now it’s property.”
“An invitation to a common banquet.”
The novel ends in the frigid cold of a snow-covered mountain with this metaphor lingering in the air. It is a horrific image of a young woman, alone, desperate, afraid, genuflecting in prayer in the face of an inescapable fate. The invitation to the banquet is initiated with a “call to the feast.” A call from one to the other wolves surrounding the main course.
