The main purpose of this thesis is to illustrate Sciascia's
work concerning the "mafia". It implies a previous
discussion on the mafia and why no government could destroy
it . It also points out its relationship with the Sicilia
society and other countries on earth.
The introduction gives an account of the history of Sicily
and its invaders throughout the centuries. The formation of
the old law of "omerta" (conspiracy of silence) developed as
a defense and protection against the harsh rule of the
Spaniards who dominated the island continually from the
fifteenth century till 1860. This old law became the basic
principle of the mafia as illustrated in the four novels
written by Leonardo Sciascia. The titles are as follows:
1. II giorno della civetta (The Day of the Owl); 2. A ciascuno i l suo (To Each his Own); 3. Todo modo (One Way or Another); 4. II contesto (Equal Danger).
The structure of each novel is the same as generally found
in the detective story genre but without any denouement.
The first chapter deals with "II giorno della civetta" where
examples of local mafia are illustrated including the
struggle for justice. Sciascia shows the structure of the
mafia in a small Sicilian town.
The second chapter analyzes the novel "A ciascuno i l suo"
where the mafia infiltrates the government and many
political sectors.
In chapter four "II contesto" one encounters an urban,
cosmopolitan system of corruption involving the elite class
of judges and high political party leaders.
Sciascia challenges the very institution of justice,
political parties and the government at large. He takes on
himself the responsibility, as writer, to push for the
recognition of moral values of a society and an era.
The epilogue covers the efforts of the "Antimafia" men in
their attempt to put down the mafia.
The end covers the international mafia and its criminal
underground activities such as the drug trafficking, money
laundering, prostitution, etc.
Various antimafia personalities have been killed in this
campaign and the struggle continues today in spite of many
"mafia bosses" having been arrested.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:LACETR/oai:collectionscanada.gc.ca:BVAU.2429/3644 |
| Date | 05 1900 |
| Creators | Kobbeltvedt, Elisa M. |
| Source Sets | Library and Archives Canada ETDs Repository / Centre d'archives des thèses électroniques de Bibliothèque et Archives Canada |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
| Relation | UBC Retrospective Theses Digitization Project [http://www.library.ubc.ca/archives/retro_theses/] |
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