The Story of a New Name

Under Lila’s command, Elena loses herself in making the poster. She considers that Michele Solara’s comment about Lila’s erasure of self is apt and the collaging of different colored posters to her wedding photograph, permits “her to portray the fury she directed against herself,” the self that had so willingly become Stefano’s wife and taken the name of Carracci (122). 

The store opening in Piazza dei Martiri is a lavish occasion and all the guests are dressed in the clothes they wore to Lila’s wedding. Lila complains to Rino that the shop sign above the entrance reads “Solara,” even though it is Cerullo shoes that are being sold (127). Rino tells Lila to stop complaining and assures her things have to be this way for diplomatic purposes. Lila is very pale and sickly because of her pregnancy. When she goes to the bathroom, she finds blood.

Lila miscarries. Her husband and sister-in-law blame the incident on her “unwillingness” to keep a baby. But her mother-in-law, Maria Carracci, takes her side and admires her hard work in the grocery (129).

Elena, meanwhile, goes back to school. With Antonio away serving in the military and Nino off at university, she finds herself doing well.