Abstract

[The square and the palace. Populism and anti-populism in Fuente Ovejuna and I promessi sposi] The square and the palace represent two symbolic and opposite places. The former is usually connected to the context of public discussions and confrontations (and sometimes riots) dealing with the political deliberations assumed or to be assumed by the latter, interpreted as the seat of authority and power (and sometimes abuse). The judgement on these two symbolic polarities differs, however, depending on the author. In this case, I will analyse in parallel the comedy by Félix Lope de Vega, Fuente Ovejuna (publ. 1619) and Chapter XII of I Promessi Sposi (The Betrothed) by Alessandro Manzoni (publ. 1840-42), which famously tells of the assault against the Forno delle Grucce in Milan, 1628. Interestingly, both works deal with the government of Spain in the 15th and 17th centuries respectively, but while de Vega seems very close to some current social and political phenomena related to the so-called “populism”, Manzoni shows to be quite critical towards such kind of behaviours.