My Brilliant Friend: Elena Ferrante on Class, Capital, and Language

The best they can do, it seems, is embrace their fate, fight for their own servitude.

By Jon Beasley-Murray, University of British Columbia.

00:00 Introduction
02:04 Acquiring a Taste for Domination
06:53 Questions
11:00 Mobilizing the Politics of Language
19:33 Credits

#rmst202 #romancestudies

[simplemortal]

Came back here to say that I read the four books and they broke my heart. The story is too close to home, as a woman living in a so called “poor” country it was very hard to read the books, specially the last one, as the struggles of Lila and Lenú are the reality for many people living in Latin America like me. The frustration of having ambitions and not having the means to get more of life, it kills the spirit. I learned a lot from these characters, I was on the path of Lenú, trying to fit in a world that simply will never accept me, now I’m embracing life as it is for me, working to leave a positive mark on my surroundings. I cannot change how things are, but I can try. What Ms. Ferrante wrote was a lightning bolt for my brain.

Your analysis really touch the vital points of the books. Thanks for sharing.

[Olix]

Great, amazing, showstopping, never the same

[ava-zyid]

Thank you for the lecture! Language was definitely a theme I picked up throughout this book so this really helped me contextualize it.
- Ava Hamid-Nejad

[joannepuglia]

This was a fascinating dissection of all the variables at play between the girls & the setting of the novel. (s) I loved the 4 novels & love the series.

[MayaBerrached]

loved this book! thanks - Maya Berrached

[maia]

Interesting to think about the betrayal of friends/family for ambition or a different life - I could see Elena's struggle between these two worlds and in seeing herself and her world in a new light after her education. Thank you! Maia D.

[cicizheng]

Wow, very interesting to see all the comments from previous year LOL. Social status and prosperity are really the hurdles that can't be crossed, and Lila's fate is really a reflection of a lot of people who are struggling in the lower class.

[SamanthaRogers-yx]

Nice lecture! I definitely had conflicting feelings on novel, but this lecture helped further my understanding!

[nadiaulanowska]

Great lecture, I think it encapsulates the major themes, plot and characters in a way that makes a lot of sense and can help deepen understanding.

[Lucy-ngpt]

Great Videos and nice picture in between! Their relationship is really touching. Jialu Xu

[frannysfeet]

Awesome lecture professor! This really helped me understand the novel more! (Also the past comment of the person getting this book spoiled made me laugh a little, hope they were THAT devastated 😭)

[alexandramacphee]

Very interesting lecture thank you! -Alexandra

[vibhajayaprakash]

Great lecture thank you - Vibha Jayaprakash

[DonnaWolfeGatti]

The exquisite beauty of the TV show is enhanced by your commentary. Thank you.

[josmith]

❤️❤️❤️ 🍎🍎🍎🍎A great review from the Structuralism perspective- 🤌🏽🤌🏽most enjoyable. Thankyou 💯💯👌👌😊

[simplemortal]

Pretty interesting analysis. Thank you for uploading! I’m watching the TV series trying to decipher the two protagonists, specially Lila. I’ll be reading the books.

[jackmosher]

The hairs looking good in this lecture Jon! -Jack

[zsazsabear]

Brilliant Author... 👏...Brilliant analysis ❤

[elizabethtesta]

Loved the series very realistic. Hope it returns.

[boston_octopus]

Nice to hear an analysis of of the overarching themes.