Lightness: Calvino’s Quality

Before writing this section, I found it helpful to first re-read Calvino’s section on Lightness. This was a lot more time intensive than I anticipated so I may just read over my detailed notes before I approach writing a post for the other qualities.

According to Calvino, Lightness is best explained in opposition to heaviness. He explains that he is often concerned with subtracting weight from stories and language. In order to further define the quality, Calvino uses the myth of Perseus.

Perseus was a Greek hero that killed the Gorgon named Medusa. At birth, Medusa is described as being ravishingly beautiful. However, when Athena discovered Poseidon raping Medusa in her temple, she transformed Medusa’s hair into serpents and made her face so terrible to behold that the mere sight of it would turn onlookers to stone. In order to kill Medusa, Perseus was able to see Medusa through the reflection in his mirrored shield; he beheaded her without looking directly at her.

This story relates to the quality of lightness because it is inherently tied to perspective. Just as Perseus had to gain a different or unique perspective in order to kill Medusa, we must look at things from a different perspective in order to work towards lightness.

Calvino also uses the story of Guido Cavalcanti by Boccaccio. Guido is surrounded by foes in a graveyard and things begin to look rather sinister. He cleverly escapes his enemies by leaping over a grave. This reference to Cavalcanti is significant because of the reference to mortality with the “graveyard” setting, but also because Cavalcanti was able to reevaluate the situation and find a solution that was very simple and effective.

For me, the most explicit definition of Lightness within this memo was outlined through the use of the following quote from Paul Valery:

This quote roughly translates: “One must be light like the bird, and not like the feather.” I really liked this quote (mostly because I speak French) but because it nicely put things in perspective. Professor Ulmer said that it was common for some students to immediately choose the feather as an emblem for Lightness. This quote explains why the feather would not be appropriate; lightness is only in effect if the subject has a use. For example, something that conveys Calvino’s Lightness would be functional, like a bird, and not like the feather which is only a part of the whole. A feather without a bird is useless, but a bird without a single feather can still function. This got me thinking about Calvino’s concept of thoughtful lightness as opposed to frivolous lightness. A feather would be an example of something that is frivolously light; it simply isn’t heavy. However, a bird (like the one pictured above) is something that is thoughtfully light. There is a well thought out purpose.