The Betrothed: I Promessi Sposi

The main narrative of The Betrothed begins in November 1628, in a small village near Lecco in Lombardy, Italy. A fretful priest named Don Abbondio walks home along a country path. He encounters two bravi, hired brutes who “attach themselves to some member of the nobility or the gentry” (10). Bravi intimidate, attack, and enforce the will of their employers. Despite numerous attempts to outlaw their behavior, they are commonplace. The armed bravi know that Don Abbondio’s intention is “to marry Renzo Tramaglino and Lucia Mondella” (14) the following day. On the orders of their employer, a powerful local baron named Don Rodrigo, the bravi warn Don Abbondio not to go through with this wedding, otherwise they will kill him. Don Abbondio “was not born with the heart of a lion” (16). He agrees to their demands, hurries home, and anxiously complains to his maid, Perpetua, that he does not know what to do. Typically, he sides with the more powerful party. He begs Perpetua not to tell anyone and he hurries to bed.

Don Abbondio spends a night wracked with anxiety. Renzo, an orphaned silk worker, comes to Don Abbondio to discuss the wedding. Nervously, Don Abbondio insists that there have been “complications” (27). He delays the wedding, much to Renzo’s outrage. Reluctantly, Renzo agrees to wait a week. As he leaves, however, he speaks to Perpetua, which compels him to return to Don Abbondio, who confesses that Don Rodrigo has demanded that the wedding be stopped. Don Abbondio retires to bed with a fever while Renzo visits Lucia to deliver the bad news. When she hears about Don Rodrigo, Lucia is “filled with anguish” (38) but unsurprised.

Lucia explains the situation to Renzo and her “equally distressed” (39) mother, Agnese. Some days earlier, Don Rodrigo spotted her while out with his cousin, Count Attilio. He was attracted to her and made a bet with Attilio that he could sleep with her. Lucia visited a local friar named Padre Cristoforo, who advised her to avoid the baron and marry Renzo as quickly as possible. Renzo is furious. Agnese suggests that he visit a lawyer named Azzeccagarbugli, but more commonly known as Professor Argle-Bargle. Renzo is shown into the lawyer’s office by a maid and, the meeting starts well. Professor Argle-Bargle, however, mistakenly believes that Renzo is one of the bravi who threatened a priest to delay a marriage. When he hears the name Don Rodrigo, he angrily chases Renzo from his office. While Renzo returns to Lucia’s home, she arranges for a local friar named Fra Galdino to ask Fra Cristoforo to visit her. Renzo returns and insists that he will triumph because “there is justice in this world” (53).

Fra Cristoforo is the son of a wealthy merchant. During childhood, he was known as Lodovico. His father was obsessed with his own reputation, thus raising his son like a noble. Ludovico had a steward named Cristoforo, who was noted for his loyalty and devotion to his family. In the small town, a rival gentleman challenged Lodovico to a fight due to a supposed infringement of honor and chivalry. Ludovico fought and won. He killed the rival, but Cristoforo was killed in the process. Ludovico sought sanctuary in a nearby Capuchin church. When sanctuary is sought in a church or monastery, tradition dictates, it “cannot be breached by the police or by the complex of things and people known as the justice system” (61). Ludovico is treated for his wounds and, noting the faith of the Capuchin friars, decides to become a friar, too. He left his wealth to Cristoforo’s family and took the name of his dead friend in tribute. He sought out the rival gentleman’s family and, when they saw the “humble, deep contrition for his sin” (67), they forgave him. Fra Cristoforo has since dedicated his life to protecting “the oppressed” (69). Fra Cristoforo arrives at Lucia’s home.

Fra Cristoforo listens to Lucia’s problem. He encourages the couple to keep their faith in God and leaves to visit Don Rodrigo. The fortress-like palace of Don Rodrigo is situated on a hilltop. The entrance is decorated with two dead vultures and guarded by two bravi. Recognizing Fra Cristoforo as a Capuchin friar, they allow him inside. Don Rodrigo is eating dinner with Count Attilio, the Mayor, Professor Argle-Bargle, and two others. They argue about “a question of chivalry” (77), the code which governs the behavior of knights and gentlemen. Fra Cristoforo listens politely as he waits for a private audience with Don Rodrigo, who he senses is “trying to get under [Fra Cristoforo’s] skin” (79). When they toast, they collectively agree that there is no famine in the country, blaming “the hoarders” (83) for any food shortages. Don Rodrigo grants a private audience to Fra Cristoforo.

Fra Cristoforo struggles to maintain his composure as Don Rodrigo insists on his right to pursue Lucia. When Don Rodrigo begins to accuse Fra Cristoforo of wasting his time and suggests he is also interested in Lucia, Fra Cristoforo grows angry. The men argue, and Don Rodrigo dismisses the friar. As Fra Cristoforo exits, however, an elderly servant says that he may be able to help the friar. He promises to find out whatever “hellish things” (90) Don Rodrigo is planning and pass this information along. In the meantime, Agnese has hatched a plan. She suggests that Renzo and Lucia trick Don Abbondio into marrying them: If they present themselves to him and announce that they are man and wife in front of two witnesses, then they will be legally married. Though Lucia is concerned that this is “too sneaky” (95), the enthusiastic Renzo suggests that his friends, Tonio and Gervaso, stand as witnesses. Renzo’s friends agree to be witnesses if Renzo settles Tonio’s debt to the priest.

Fra Cristoforo returns to Lucia and Renzo, describing the unproductive meeting with Don Rodrigo. He invites them to “trust in God” (100) and to visit him the following day to make further plans. Renzo is outraged with Don Rodrigo. They do not tell Fra Cristoforo about the plan for a surprise wedding, which Lucia still does not approve of but, to calm Renzo’s anger, she agrees. She notices a “beggar who was neither as emaciated nor as ragged as his peers” (106) near her house. Don Rodrigo summoned the leader of his bravi, Griso—who is the suspicious “beggar”—and ordered him to kidnap Lucia. Don Rodrigo also offered to “double the bet” (109) with Count Attilio. As Renzo prepares for the surprise wedding, he fails to notice three bravi sitting in a tavern. Renzo, Lucia, Agnese, Tonio, and Gervaso go to visit Don Abbondio.