REPRESENTATIONS OF CHILDHOOD IN ELSA MORANTE

Abstract

This essay explores the representation of childhood in several major works by Elsa Morante, including Menzogna e sortilegio, L’isola di Arturo, La Storia, and Aracoeli. Through the child characters Elisa, Arturo, Useppe, and Manuele, Morante places childhood at the center of her literary vision, using it to reflect on human identity, vulnerability, and relationships. The study highlights how Morante portrays childhood not only as a phase of life but also as a space of sensitivity, openness, and exposure to difference. Particular attention is given to the themes of solitude and communication, showing how moments of isolation become occasions for exploring non-verbal and bodily forms of language. The essay also considers Morante’s engagement with psychological and philosophical ideas concerning the development of identity and social experience, emphasizing the relevance of childhood as a key perspective for understanding both individual and collective dynamics in her works.