Pirandello and the shadow of the scientists: between Nordau and Mantegazza

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to highlight how, in fin de siècle Europe, the disseminators of the positivist revolution often employed humour to underscore the contradictions between emerging conceptions of humanity and society (stemmed from recent scientific advancements, particularly Darwinian theory), and the immutability of conventions. I will explore the potential influences of The Conventional Lies of Our Civilisation by Hungarian doctor Max Nordau and Le tre Grazie by doctor and anthropologist Paolo Mantegazza on Luigi Pirandello’s work from his formative years up to 1905, focusing specifically on the short stories Le tre carissime and Senza malizia, as well as the novel Fu Mattia Pascal.