68 pages 2 hours read

Elena Ferrante

Those Who Leave and Those Who Stay

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2013

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Essay Topics

1.

How does Elena’s notion of class mobility influence her decisions and shifting priorities in the novel? How do other characters respond to her increased wealth and social standing, and what does this reveal about the relationship between class and revolution in the novel?

2.

What is the significance of departures and returns in the novel? Who are “those who leave” and “those who stay”?

3.

Select one of the political or social theories referenced in the novel and analyze its significance in the narrative.