Agostino & His Mommy Issues – Alberto Moravia

This Novella was an interesting ride. It follows an upper class kid who is on vacation with his mother. As the story progresses, we see the protagonist’s changing perception of his mother. I dare to question the author’s perception of women, lower social classes and Freudian theories by the way he shaped the main character’s thoughts and opinions.

The Mother-Son Relationship

Moravia creates a vivid portrait of Agostino’s changing perspective by delving into the complex dynamics of the mother-son relationship. Initially set in a maternal image, Agostino’s gaze evolves into a more intimate exploration, drawing attention to the characteristics of his mother’s womanhood. However, as the plot progresses and Renzo enters the scene, Agostino develops an intense repulsion to his mother and her behaviors towards her newfound interest. At first I could try to understand his jealousy because of how he recounts this situation with his cousin who left him to go dance with someone else, he compares that situation to how her mother left with Renzo.

Like his cousin, his mother had been waiting for the right opportunity to abandon him. (8)

But this benefit of the doubt is quickly thrown away by his next sentence.

… she had accepted the first partner to come along. (8)

Wanting to shame his mother because of her new companion’s lateness, he teases his mother which leads her to slap him, well deserved. But this action only made him grow more distant and led him to meet a sketchy group.

His repulsion grows to the point of wanting to tell his mother to “get ahold of herself” but this comment seems more fitting for him and his weird thoughts and actions.

In retrospect, the portrayal of this relationship seems odd and deviates from what one might expect from a thirteen-year-old’s perspective. The idea of a young child spying on his mother, contemplating her physicality, and overtly emphasizing specific aspects of her body appears unusual. These narrative choices introduce a feel of unusual characteristics, drifting from the usual and relatable ways in which a child would typically view their mother.

The Gang

This group of less fortunate kids, who enjoy drinking, smoking, and hanging out with a shady six-fingered man, enjoy teasing Agostino because he is different. They make comments about his mother’s appearance and speculate on what she’s up to at sea with her new fling. Naturally, this makes Agostino even more bitter about his mother.

Even though Agostino disapproves of these kids and thinks they act like animals and generally find them annoying, he still wants to fit in. It’s as if he’s trying to let go of his innocence but isn’t quite ready. As the summer progresses, he begins to change his clothes, attitude, and speaking style in an attempt to become more like them. But he clearly did not enjoy the gangs activities but he didn’t enjoy his past ones either. In the end, he realizes he “lost his former pleasures without managing to acquire any new ones” (74). It would take him many years to find himself still.

About Saro (optional read)

I want to quickly address the molester, Saro. I found his actions on the boat strange, but I dismissed them because he’s like a father figure to these kids. However, once they arrived at their destination, the gang began teasing him. It made me uncomfortable, especially because the kids only teased Agostino without sharing what they found amusing. The fact that Sandro was the one who gave an explanation made me wonder if the kids were aware of Saro’s behavior but still continued to hang around him, not to mention Homs who seems to normalize Saro’s interactions. I question the necessity of this character’s behavior which seems irrelevant to the story and in turn, makes me question the author’s way to describe the kids’ bodies and the significance of such details to the overall narrative.

Discussion Question

1. I would like to know what is your opinion on the way Agostino perceives his mother and how that made you feel.

2. Also, What did you think about Saro at the end compared to in the beginning?

3. And lastly, who was your favorite or least favorite member of the gang?