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Birth of Luigi Pirandello
Luigi Pirandello was born on June 28, 1867 in what is now known as Sicily, Italy. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Luigi-Pirandello -
Family to Luigi Pirandello
Luigi Pirandello was a son to Stefano Pirandello and Caterina Pirandello who gave birth to him June 28, 1867. His father was a prosperous sulfur merchant.
https://www.encyclopedia.com/people/literature-and-arts/italian-literature-biographies/luigi-pirandello -
Italian Modernism
During Luigi Pirandello's time of writing the movement of Italian Modernism was occurring. Modernism is a movement in which there were many new forms of art and many new ways in which that art could be reflected or represented.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modernism -
Moving
In 1880 Pirandello's family had moved to Palermo where Luigi had completed his high school education
Image and Info: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luigi_Pirandello -
Moving Universities
During his time at the University of Rome, Luigi Pirandello had a conflict with one of his professors which caused him to transfer to the University of Bonn. During his time there he read and learned from many German romantics.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luigi_Pirandello -
Education
Luigi Pirandello had no interest in what his father wanted him to learn and had been transferred to an academic secondary school. During his time in school he had written his first play called Barbaro and after his initial schooling he attended a university in Palermo and later in Rome. In March 1891 Luigi Pirandello attained a doctorate in Romance Philology.
https://www.encyclopedia.com/people/literature-and-arts/italian-literature-biographies/luigi-pirandello
https://en.wikipedia.org -
Inspiration
While Luigi Pirandello read from various novelists, writers, etc. the writer he admired and emulated the most was Giovanni Verga. -
Marriage
In 1894, Luigi Pirandello upon his father's suggestion married Maria Antonietta Portulano after calling off his planned marriage with his cousin.
Image and Info: https://journeys.dartmouth.edu/luigipirandello18s/his-life/#:~:text=Education%20and%20Married%20Life&text=After%20his%20education%20at%20Bonn,'Amico%2078%2D92). -
Children
During Luigi Pirandello's relationship with his wife she gave birth to his three children. Luigi had two sons being Stefano and Fausto Pirandello and one daughter called Rosalia Pirandello.
Image and Info: https://www.berkshiretheatregroup.org/luigi-pirandellos-world-of-chaos/ -
Collapse of the Sulfur Mines
The father of Luigi Pirandello was a prosperous sulfur miner and had attempted to get his son in this business. While not directly working in the business Luigi Pirandello and his wife made great financial investments in the mine. Therefore, when the mine collapsed in 1903 it not only caused him to struggle financially but it caused his wife to mentally suffer ultimately ending up in an asylum.
https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/consolation-from-chaos-on-luigi-pirandello/ -
First Major Success
After his financial hardships Luigi Pirandello finally saw some success in his work in literature starting off with his novel "II fu Mattia Pascal (The Late Mattia Pascal)".
https://www.encyclopedia.com/people/literature-and-arts/italian-literature-biographies/luigi-pirandello
Image: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12116.The_Late_Mattia_Pascal -
World War I
World War I was a global war that originally started in Europe and lasted for 4 Years. It affected Luigi Pirandello because his son volunteered for the war and was taken prisoner by the Austro-Hungarians.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luigi_Pirandello#First_World_War -
"Six Characters in Search of an Author"
One of Pirandello's most famous works is "Six Characters in Search of an Author" which tells the story of a rehearsal of a play being interrupted by six strange people essentially in search of someone who could finish their story. It ends in confusion and the Director lost the day over the conundrum. It premiered in 1921 in Teatro Valle.
https://www.pirandelloweb.com/six-characters-in-search-of-an-author/
Image:https://www.amazon.com/Characters-Search-Author-Thrift-Editions/dp/0486299929 -
Fascism under Benito Mussolini
The years following World War I, Italy came under control of the dictator Benito Mussolini. Pirandello openly supported his regime and even offered to join the Fascist Party. As a result of his support Mussolini provided funding for the theatre that was established by Pirandello.
https://www.encyclopedia.com/people/literature-and-arts/italian-literature-biographies/luigi-pirandello -
"Henry IV"
Another famous play made by Luigi Pirandello was "Henry IV". This is a play about a man who went mad after falling off of his horse but after recovering he continued to pretend he was crazy. He was convinced that he was Henry IV of Germany being a much different Henry.
https://www.pirandelloweb.com/henry-iv/ -
Marta Abba
For a long time after Pirandello directed his wife to an asylum he was unable to be with someone else at least until he met Marta Abba. She was an actress who he was not only in love with but who also played important parts in many of his future plays. She taught him the impact actors can have with how they interpret the text on stage.
https://www.encyclopedia.com/people/literature-and-arts/italian-literature-biographies/luigi-pirandello
Image:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marta_Abba -
Failure of the Arts Theater
Pirandello was the producer of the Arts Theater and he saw many of his plays performed here. Even with the funding of Mussolini, his theatre couldn't reach financial stability. This was a result of the lack of a government sponsor and the decreasing popularity of his plays which ended up causing him to go to exile.
https://www.encyclopedia.com/people/literature-and-arts/italian-literature-biographies/luigi-pirandello -
Nobel Prize Winner
In 1934, Luigi Pirandello was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature for his ability to turn "psychological analysis" into entertaining and effective theatre and "for his bold and ingenious revival of dramatic and scenic art".
https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/literature/1934/summary/ -
No Hope in Fascist Italy
After receiving a Nobel Prize Pirandello realized that modern theatre couldn't have a future in Italy due to Fascism. Therefore, he advised Marta Abba to leave and renew her career in the U.S.. This was a result of his belief that theatre was much more respected and appreciated there compared to Italy. -
Funeral Wishes
Luigi Pirandello was given a funeral despite his wishes which stated "When I am dead, do not clothe me. Wrap me naked in a sheet. No flowers on the bed and no lighted candle. A pauper’s cart. Naked. And let no one accompany me, neither relatives nor friends. The cart, the horse, the coachmen, e basta. Burn me."
http://pirandello.com/biography-of-luigi-pirandello/
Image: https://ripassofacile.blogspot.com -
Place of Death
Luigi Pirandello died in his home in Rome at Via Bosio on December 10th 1936.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luigi_Pirandello
