The Path to the Nest of Spiders: Analysis of Major Characters
"The Path to the Nest of Spiders" explores the lives of several key characters, each shaped by the backdrop of war and personal struggles. The central figure is Pin, a rebellious teenage boy living with his older sister, Rina. Despite his tough exterior and streetwise demeanor, Pin harbors a deep longing for connection and acceptance from the adult world. His actions, including daring escapades with partisans, reveal his search for friendship and a sense of belonging. Cousin, another main character, embodies the disillusionment of war, feeling bitter towards women while finding in Pin a companion who offers him a semblance of affection. Red Wolf, an ambitious partisan, prioritizes his political zeal over empathy, showcasing the sometimes brutal nature of ideological commitment. Meanwhile, Kim, the group's commissar, represents a quest for understanding amidst chaos, though his probing nature isolates him from his peers. Lastly, Dritto, the brigade leader, struggles with authority and personal distractions, which impact his leadership. Together, these characters navigate the complexities of loyalty, identity, and morality in a tumultuous environment.
The Path to the Nest of Spiders: Analysis of Major Characters
Author: Italo Calvino
First published: Il sentiero dei nidi di ragno, 1947 (English translation, 1956)
Genre: Novel
Locale: Italy
Plot: Psychological realism
Time: World War II
Pin, a teenage boy. Living alone with an older sister, he is streetwise, rebellious, and apparently self-assured. The thin and fragile appearance of his body are in sharp contrast with his deep, gravelly voice, with which he delights in hurling insults to everyone. Both his appearance and his attitude embody the image of the street urchin. Beneath his independent façade, however, he is a child very much in need of guidance and affection. All of his actions in the novel are prompted by his self-acknowledged desire not to be ignored any longer by the adult world he so longs to be a part of and to understand. His daring theft of a German soldier's gun, an escape from prison, and his adventures with a group of partisan rebels are the escapades in which Pin involves himself, in what is his search for friendship and acceptance. Only with a true friend will he share his greatest secret, the place where spiders make their nests.
Cousin, a partisan. Disenchanted and hardened by the war, he speaks with indifference about killing the enemy: For him, it has become almost routine, a duty that he must carry out. Patriotic fervor and enthusiasm seem, in this man, to have been replaced by weariness and disillusionment. His true enemies, however, are women, toward whom he feels bitter and antagonistic. Not only does he blame them for his own unhappiness, he also accuses them of being the cause of all evil, including war. It is in Pin that he finds a trusting and eager companion, and he is in turn able to offer the boy friendship and affection.
Red Wolf, a boy a few years older than Pin who is a member of a partisan group and has already made himself known for his political activity. Putting his cause above all else, he is un-sympathetic and zealous to the point of violence. His thirst for action exceeds his devotion to political ideology. He is immediately perceived by Pin as one who has been initiated successfully into the adult world and knows its secrets.
Rina, called The Dark Girl of Long Alley, a prostitute. She is Pin's sister and guardian, but she shows little responsiveness to his needs and demands. She seems oblivious to his comings and goings. Completely unconcerned with political issues, she makes the best of wartime conditions by seeking out soldiers stationed in the area: Germans, Italians, Fascists, and anti-Fascists.
Kim, the commissar of a partisan brigade. In peacetime, he is a medical student who plans to specialize in psychiatry. He constantly searches for logic and clarity in people, in actions, and in ideology. He is not well liked by the other members of the group because of his probing, questioning personality, which makes them uncomfortable.
Dritto, the leader of the partisan brigade detachment. Brave and able in commanding, he has difficulty following orders himself. In his eagerness to take matters into his own hands, he does not always carry out his duties efficiently. He loses the respect of his companions when, infatuated with the cook's wife, he becomes distracted and causes a serious fire in the encampment.