Il «fanciullo divino»

Ermete nell'opera di Cesare Pavese

Abstract

The essay analyzes Cesare Pavese's interest in Greek and Roman mythology, which was born in the high school years. The writer is attracted to the pre-Hellenic depths of myth, when gods, men and animals lived in communion. Taking into consideration the god Hermes, which has its roots in pre-Hellenic civilization, an attempt was made to demonstrate how it attracted Pavese's attention both in his work as a translator of classics and in his literary work (the god is the protagonist of three of the twenty-seven Dialogues with Leucò, that are Le cavalle, La belva and La madre). The Piedmontese writer, while enhancing the most archaic traits of the god, goes through all its complexity: the god is in fact portrayed as a messenger of the gods, protector of wayfarers, dreamer and psychopomp.