Elena Ferrante’s Those Who Leave And Those Who Stay

This review examines Elena Ferrante’s Those Who Leave And Those Who Stay, the third novel in the Neapolitan Novels series. It is intended for readers seeking a structured understanding of the book’s narrative progression, thematic depth, and its place within the larger series. The focus is on providing actionable insights for readers to engage with the text critically and effectively.

Those Who Leave And Those Who Stay by Elena Ferrante: Who This Is For

• Readers who have engaged with the first two volumes of the Neapolitan Novels and wish to understand the trajectory of Elena and Lila’s relationship and individual development.
• Individuals interested in a nuanced portrayal of post-war Italian society, particularly Naples, focusing on the interplay of personal ambition, class struggle, and political engagement.

What to Check First

• Series Continuity: This novel is a direct continuation. Understanding the events and character dynamics from My Brilliant Friend and The Story of a New Name is critical for comprehension.
• Narrative Focus Shift: Recognize that while Elena (Lenù) narrates, her perspective becomes more central, detailing her intellectual and romantic pursuits in Turin. Lila remains a powerful, albeit often physically absent, influence.
• Thematic Complexity: Be prepared for an unflinching examination of societal structures, personal sacrifice, and the consequences of choices made under duress. The novel does not offer easy answers.
• Pacing and Structure: The narrative interweaves Lenù’s personal life with broader political and social commentary. This can lead to a dense reading experience that requires sustained attention.

Step-by-Step Plan for Engaging with Those Who Leave And Those Who Stay

1. Review Previous Installments: Before commencing, briefly recall the primary conflicts and character arcs from My Brilliant Friend and The Story of a New Name.

• Action: Revisit key plot points or character summaries.
• What to Look For: Understand the state of Lenù and Lila’s relationship, their respective educational and personal paths, and the socio-political context of Naples.
• Mistake to Avoid: Proceeding without a clear recollection of prior events can lead to confusion regarding character motivations and the significance of recurring themes.

2. Establish Lenù’s New Environment: Focus on Lenù’s relocation to Turin and her integration into academic and intellectual circles.

• Action: Pay close attention to descriptions of Turin and the university setting.
• What to Look For: Observe how Lenù navigates this new world, her intellectual development, and the challenges of forming an identity separate from her Neapolitan origins.
• Mistake to Avoid: Underestimating the impact of Lenù’s intellectual and romantic entanglements in Turin; these are crucial to her character development and narrative arc.

3. Track Lila’s Unfolding Path: Monitor Lila’s independent and often unconventional trajectory, noting its impact on Lenù and the wider narrative.

• Action: Note Lila’s activities and decisions, even when she is not directly interacting with Lenù.
• What to Look For: Identify Lila’s continued defiance of societal norms and her innovative, sometimes dangerous, pursuits.
• Mistake to Avoid: Assuming Lila’s narrative importance diminishes due to her physical distance; her actions have profound ripple effects on Lenù’s life and the community.

4. Analyze Political and Social Undercurrents: Observe the influence of the national and local political climate on the characters’ lives.

• Action: Identify specific political ideologies and events mentioned in the text.
• What to Look For: Understand how political engagement shapes the characters’ choices, relationships, and ambitions, particularly within the context of post-war Italy.
• Mistake to Avoid: Dismissing the political backdrop as mere setting; Ferrante integrates it as a fundamental force driving the characters’ actions and the novel’s themes.

For those eager to dive into Elena Ferrante’s acclaimed Neapolitan Novels, the third installment, Those Who Leave And Those Who Stay, is an essential read. This novel continues the compelling narrative of Elena and Lila’s complex friendship.

Those Who Leave and Those Who Stay: The Neapolitan Novels, Book 3

• Audible Audiobook
• Elena Ferrante (Author) - Hillary Huber (Narrator)
• English (Publication Language)
• 05/15/2015 (Publication Date) - Blackstone Audio, Inc. (Publisher)

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5. Evaluate the Dynamics of Friendship: Continuously assess the evolving nature of Lenù and Lila’s relationship.

• Action: Reflect on moments of connection, conflict, envy, and loyalty between the two protagonists.
• What to Look For: Note how their friendship is tested by distance, differing life choices, and external pressures.
• Mistake to Avoid: Viewing their friendship as static; it is a complex, dynamic force that constantly adapts and is redefined throughout the narrative.

6. Consider the Theme of Departure and Origin: Reflect on the characters’ desires to leave their past and the persistent pull of their Neapolitan roots.

• Action: Identify instances where characters attempt to escape their circumstances.
• What to Look For: Observe the consequences of these attempts and the ways in which Naples and its social structures continue to exert influence.
• Mistake to Avoid: Overlooking the subtle, yet powerful, ways in which characters remain tethered to their origins, regardless of their physical location.

Those Who Leave And Those Who Stay by Elena Ferrante: A Thematic Analysis

The title, Those Who Leave And Those Who Stay, encapsulates the central thematic tension of this installment. The novel meticulously dissects the divergent paths individuals forge when confronted with societal expectations and personal aspirations. Elena (Lenù) embodies the act of “leaving,” actively seeking intellectual advancement and a life beyond the confines of her upbringing in Naples. Conversely, Lila’s relationship with “staying” is more complex; while she may not always remain physically in the same place, her connection to the raw energy and inherent challenges of their Neapolitan world is unyielding. She represents a force that, while seemingly bound to origins, constantly innovates and transforms within those constraints.

Ferrante uses this dichotomy to explore the construction of identity. Lenù’s pursuit of education and a more bourgeois existence in Turin is a deliberate act of self-creation, yet it is perpetually shadowed by her past and her intricate bond with Lila. The novel questions the feasibility of true escape, suggesting that the act of leaving inherently carries the weight of what is left behind. This narrative tension highlights the sacrifices demanded by ambition and the enduring significance of one’s origins, forcing readers to consider the multifaceted nature of self-definition.

Expert Tips for Understanding the Novel

• Tip: Pay close attention to the sensory details of Naples.
• Action: Note recurring descriptions of smells, sounds, and textures associated with the city.
• Common Mistake: Overlooking these details as mere atmosphere; they are integral to the visceral reality of the characters’ lives and the enduring influence of their origins.

• Tip: Analyze the language and rhetorical strategies employed by Lenù.
• Action: Observe how Lenù frames her experiences and her interpretations of Lila’s actions.
• Common Mistake: Accepting Lenù’s narrative voice as objective truth; her perspective is shaped by her own desires, insecurities, and her complex relationship with Lila.

• Tip: Identify moments where societal expectations directly conflict with individual desires.
• Action: Highlight instances where characters must choose between conforming and asserting their personal will.
• Common Mistake: Underestimating the pervasive influence of social class, gender roles, and political pressures; these forces significantly shape the characters’ limited choices.

Common Mistakes When Reading Those Who Leave And Those Who Stay

• Mistake: Assuming Lila’s character becomes less central as the narrative focuses on Lenù.
• Why it Matters: This misconception can lead readers to underestimate Lila’s profound and often disruptive influence on the plot and on Lenù’s psychological state. Her actions, even when distant, have significant repercussions.
• Fix: Recognize Lila’s power as a force of nature and a symbolic counterpoint to Lenù’s trajectory. Her choices are pivotal, and her presence is felt intensely throughout the novel, driving much of the conflict and thematic exploration.

• Mistake: Treating the political backdrop as secondary to personal drama.
• Why it Matters: This perspective risks missing Ferrante’s masterful integration of socio-political currents into the fabric of the characters’ lives. Political events and ideologies directly fuel character motivations and plot developments.
• Fix: Actively seek out connections between the personal struggles of the characters and the broader historical and political context of post-war Italy. Understand that these forces are not merely decorative but are fundamental to the characters’ experiences and decisions.

• Mistake: Viewing the friendship between Lenù and Lila as a static entity.
• Why it Matters: The dynamic between Lenù and Lila is one of the novel’s most complex and evolving elements. Misinterpreting its nature can lead to a superficial understanding of their bond and its significance.
• Fix: Observe the ebb and flow of their relationship, noting moments of intense connection, deep-seated rivalry, mutual dependence, and profound misunderstanding. Recognize that their friendship is a constant negotiation, shaped by external pressures and internal conflicts.

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Decision Criteria for Engagement

When approaching Those Who Leave And Those Who Stay by Elena Ferrante, a critical decision point arises based on your primary reading objective:

• For Character Deep Dive: If your primary interest lies in a granular exploration of Lenù’s psychological evolution and her intellectual journey, prioritize close reading of her internal monologues and academic pursuits in Turin. The recommendation here is to dissect her personal relationships and her attempts to forge an independent identity.
• For Sociopolitical Context: If you are more drawn to understanding the impact of post-war Italian politics and social structures on individual lives, focus on the broader societal shifts and political movements referenced. The recommendation is to trace how these macro-level forces directly influence the micro-level decisions and fates of the characters, particularly Lila’s more unconventional paths.

This decision criterion directly impacts how one prioritizes plot points and thematic elements, altering the recommendation for how to best engage with the novel.

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