“The Autobiographical Code” in the “Neapolitan Novels” by Elena Ferrante

Abstract

The article focuses on “the autobiographical code” in the “Neapolitan Novels” (“My Brilliant Friend” (“L’amica geniale”, 2011), “The Story of a New Name” (“Storia del nuovo cognome”, 2012), “Those Who Leave and Those Who Stay” (“Storia di chi fugge e di chi resta”, 2013) и “The Story of the Lost Child” (“Storia della bambina perduta”, 2014) by Elena Ferrante, whose identity is still a mystery to researchers. The writer’s myth is realized through a conscious writing strategy of anonymity which results in mystification, with the novels being seen as partly fictional and partly non-fictional (specifically, mimicking autofiction). The author has a dual alter ego: Elena (Lenù) Greco and Raffaella (Lila) Cerullo. Both these characters represent opposite strategies of publicity: a disciplined author who is aimed at self-presentation and an active public position, and a writer who is weary of fame and chooses a mystification strategy. The tetralogy acquires the features of meta-narration which focuses on the writer’s self-reflection. It shows not only in characters’ images, but also in features of the text organization.