Response to The Little Virtues

           
             Despite its surface-level simplicity of language and somewhat colloquial nature, Natalia Ginzburg’s The Little Virtues delves in to highly philosophical problems resulting in her harsh critiques on society and human nature.  Especially in the short story titled “England: Eulogy and Lament,” Ginzburg makes no effort to desensitize her critiques on England.  Yet, her short stories should not be viewed as criticisms alone because it is the ability of her short stories to exist as separate lessons that gives the collection a certain wisdom.  Among her harshest criticisms of the English is their melancholy which Ginzburg believes is the result of their lack imagination and authenticity.  She believes that the English have unknowingly lost their authenticity.  She says “nothing is the world is sadder than an English conversation, in which everyone is careful to keep to superficialities and never touch on anything essential” (Ginzburg 25).  Considering her history as a writer who has no qualms about speaking out against postwar political constructs and recession, it can be said that her classification of England as “the most melancholy country in the world” has something to do with politics in postwar England.  The English lack imagination and are careful to keep their conversations in the realm of superficialities because they are victims of strict government control, which leaves the country in a state of melancholy.