Chapter 23 Summary and Analysis

Chapter 23

The peasants remain angry and bitter. They ignore the ban and come to Carlo's house cautiously. But Carlo can only give advice and distribute medicines in stock. As he is unable to practice, the other doctors practice in his place, but they are incompetent. Carlo recounts one story of this incompetence. Giulia suggests that Carlo simply heal through sorcery, as she has taught him the relevant spells. Carlo then digresses into a discussion of the uses of magic in the village, particularly of the phrase "abracadabra". They have spells to cure everything. But Carlo continues to use medicine in secret and avoids magic altogether.

Giulia's husband had gone to Argentina years ago with her oldest son. Giulia gets a letter from this son one day. He has grown up in Buenos Aires and has joined the Italian Army to go...