Nights of Cabiria Literary Elements

Nights of Cabiria Literary Elements

Director

Federico Fellini

Leading Actors/Actresses

Giulietta Masina, Francois Perier, Franca Marzi

Supporting Actors/Actresses

Dorian Gray, Amedeo Nazzari, Aldo Silvani

Genre

Drama

Language

Italian

Awards

Won Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film

Date of Release

1957

Producer

Dino De Laurentiis

Setting and Context

Rome 1950s

Narrator and Point of View

The point of view is that of Maria also known as "Cabiria."

Tone and Mood

Serious and Realistic

Protagonist and Antagonist

Protagonist: Maria Antagonist: Oscar, Giorgio

Major Conflict

Maria is a prostitute who dreams of a better life and believes she can have one, but puts all of her trust in the men she loves who throw her away and take her money.

Climax

Oscar, the man who has asked to marry Maria brings her to a cliff to murder her and take her money. She figures it out, gives him the money and he runs away.

Foreshadowing

During the magic show Maria is hypnotized. The show is stopped when she asks if it is real that this Oscar will actually love her.

Understatement

Fellini understates that Oscar is solely out to take Maria's money. We don't see it until the tone and setting completely change.

Innovations in Filming or Lighting or Camera Techniques

n/a

Allusions

Fellini drastically changes the setting from a cliff-side view with Oscar and Maria to them being in the middle of the woods. This alludes to the danger that is forthcoming.

Paradox

The pimps and prostitutes ask for mercy and forgiveness for their sins but paradoxically they do nothing to make a change in their life.

Parallelism

Fellini parallels the ending where Oscar steals Maria's money with the opening scene where Giorgio has stolen her purse and pushed her into the water. Only this time the stakes are far higher.

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