L'arma del linguaggio: parole per la guerra e per la pace nei Promessi Sposi

The paper aims to investigate the ambiguous relationship between language and violence in the Italian novel I Promessi Sposi (The Betrothed), by Alessandro Manzoni. In particular, it analyzes the intertwining of force, power and words, to show how actual physical strength (or sheer threat of violence) conditions dialogue and excludes the possibility of a verbal solution to any difference of opinion. On the other hand, it explores the power of words in shaping the world through persuasion (or manipulation). The observations emerging from the analysis of the examples are discussed in the light of Manzoni’s language ideology, which emphasizes the risks of deception and violence through language, exerted by the powerful to the detriment of the poor and uneducated. A barrier to this linguistic abuse can be found in Manzoni’s project to renew the Italian language, promoting a common and accessible variety to be used across regions and social classes for the sake of effective communication.