The topos of denied or distorted justice in the Sicilian settings of Nino Martoglio and Ugo Fleres

What is it about?

Sicilian literature after Italy’s unification often shows conflict with state institutions, seen as imposed and disconnected from local reality. This creates distrust of the judicial system, viewed as unable to handle Sicily’s unique social rules. Mainland laws treat Sicilian differences negatively, “othering” the culture. This theme appears in Verga’s works and develops in Pirandello’s writings, where rigid law clashes with life’s complexity. Pirandello’s The Doctor’s Duty (1902) shows that individual conscience can’t fit a single law. Ugo Fleres’s Venial Sin (1891) also explores this. Nino Martoglio’s play I civitoti in pretura (1893) highlights misunderstandings between dialect-speaking locals and outside judges, with the courtroom audience turning the trial into a comic event. Fleres’s novel Justice (1909) depicts a chaotic justice system where the real killer confesses late, while innocent scapegoats are blamed. The trial itself isn’t shown but discussed informally, becoming a social spectacle. The only one truly judged is the dead baroness, whose reputation is ruined. This early 20th-century view of justice as chaotic reflects a world lacking clear values but helps explain Sicily’s complex social reality.

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Photo by Tingey Injury Law Firm on Unsplash

Photo by Tingey Injury Law Firm on Unsplash

Why is it important?

My work is unique and timely because it highlights the ongoing tension between formal state justice and the local social realities of Sicily, a theme that remains highly relevant for understanding regional identities and legal pluralism today. By focusing on the literary portrayals of Martoglio, Fleres, and Pirandello, I show how Sicilian literature critically reflects and questions the imposition of external legal systems on a culturally distinct society. This approach not only revisits historical conflicts but also connects to contemporary debates about the limits of universal law in diverse cultural contexts. Additionally, my analysis of language barriers in court, social dynamics during trials, and the symbolic use of justice as a theatrical spectacle offers fresh perspectives on the intersection of law and culture. In this way, my study makes a significant contribution to both literary studies and socio-legal scholarship, emphasizing the ongoing importance of regional narratives in broader discussions about justice, identity, and power