Invisible Cities

Italo Calvino’s Invisible Cities is a tough book to read.  It consists of many short stories, each devoted to the description of a city.  Calvino’s language is intricate and repetitive.  The plot, if there is one, focuses on Marco Polo’s description of numerous cities to Kublai Khan.  As the book progresses, we discover each city portrayed by Polo contains his impressions of Venice.

“And Polo said: “Every time I describe a city I am saying something about Venice.”

            “When I ask you about other cities, I want to hear about them. And about Venice, when I ask you about Venice”

            “To distinguish the other cities’ qualities, I must speak of a first city that remains implicit. For me it is Venice.” (Calvino 86).

This excerpt is dialogue between Polo and Khan.  Khan, unlike Polo, has never set foot into Venice but he is intrigued to hear more about it.  Having a common background and interests are essential in the exchange of communication.  Calvino highlights Venice as the common interest between the two allowing for good communication.  Calvino also believes referencing something already known is important to another’s understanding.  Polo would be unable to explain the features of the Venice if it was not for his experiences within it.

                Later on in their dialogue, Polo mentions, “Memory’s images, once they are fixed in words, are erased” (87).  Being able to articulate memories into words is difficult.  If they are put into words, memories can lose value and/or meaning. Calvino believes some things should be cherished rather than discussed.