Essay Questions

How does gossip emerge as the main theme in the play ‘Right You Are (If You Think So)’ by Luigi Pirandello?

The entire play is full of rumors and gossip. The characters are discussing their fellow friends in the neighborhood on a negative note. For instance, the play opens with Amalia, Dina, and Laudisi gossiping about Ponza and his secretive wife. According to the main rumor, Ponzi’s mother-in-law is residing in the next door but he does not want her to come into close contact with her daughter. Sirelli’s family and Mrs. Cini joins Amalia, Dina and Laudisi to gossip about Mrs. Flora. Surprisingly, the governor is also involved in the gossip circle because when he joins Amalia’s rumor secession, he asks Ponza to bring out his spouse to put the truth on the table about her mother.

What is the main irony in the play?

There is a rumor going around that Ponza is refusing to allow his mother in-law, Flora from seeing his wife. Everyone is talking about this gossip and the truth remains hidden. When Flora enters into Agazzi’s house, she apologizes that Ponzi is madly in love with his wife to the extent that he does not her mother to come closer. Ironically, after Flora leaves the scene, Ponzi enters to rubbish his mother-in-law’s claims. According to Ponza, his mother-in-law is mad woman who still believes that her dead daughter is alive. The reader finds it satirical that the mother and son in law are giving contradiction information about the subject of gossip.

What is the unique role of Laudisi as a character in the play?

Laudisi plays a cynical role because most of the time he uses a sardonic language in his arguments which are later proofed to be true. Laudisi is quoted commenting about Mrs. Sirelli in Act III, Scene III saying “Mrs. Sirelli: Because he says it's impossible to uncover the truth! The rest of the characters are trying their level best to uncover the irony of Ponzi and Flora who are having a complex relationship.