The Betrothed: Chapter 7 Summary

Chapter VII Main Points

• Chapter VII unfolds in three main sections, detailing key events and plans.

Part 1: Fra Cristoforo's Report

• Fra Cristoforo informs Agnese, Lucia, and Renzo about his unsuccessful visit to Don Rodrigo, mentioning a new, unnamed figure who will assist them, referred to as a "sign of divine providence."
• It's implied this figure is a helpful servant within Don Rodrigo's household.
• This servant is expected to provide updates to Fra Cristoforo about Don Rodrigo's evil plans.
• Despite Fra Cristoforo's plan, the engaged couple and Agnese are not overly optimistic, already having their own plan for a surprise wedding.
• Renzo initially expresses anger and a desire to kill Don Rodrigo, but Fra Cristoforo calms him, urging faith in God's justice.
• The novel reiterates the importance of religion and faith, emphasizing God's willingness to help the oppressed.
• Renzo reverts to wanting to kill Don Rodrigo and questions Lucia's love when she hesitates about the surprise wedding.
• Lucia eventually agrees to the plan due to Renzo's psychological pressure.

Part 2: Planning the Surprise Wedding

• The characters begin organizing the surprise wedding.
• Someone needs to visit Fra Cristoforo at the convent to get updates on Don Rodrigo's plans, which were obtained in confession.
• They choose Menico, a 12-year-old boy, to go, as Renzo believes Fra Cristoforo can discern their secret plan from his expression.
• The marriage needs to be kept secret because Fra Cristoforo would not fully approve, despite its good intentions.
• Agnese instructs Menico to speak with "that old man everyone in town calls the saint" at the convent, promising him "parpagliole" (small coins) later.
• Suspicious beggars, actually Don Rodrigo's men, appear near the women's house.
• One, Griso, the leader of Don Rodrigo's thugs, enters the house to ask for bread while secretly observing the layout, as they planned to kidnap Lucia.

Part 3: Renzo's Evening

• Renzo goes to the tavern with Gervasio and Tonio, then plans to get Lucia and Agnese to visit Don Abbondio's house.
• When they knock, Perpetua answers, hesitant to open the door late at night.
• Tonio claims he's there to repay his debt to the priest and convinces Perpetua to let him in by implying he might gamble away the money if he waits.
• Agnese positions herself near Tonio, pretending to chat casually.

Chapter VIII: The Botched Abduction

• Chapter VIII continues the events of the simultaneous botched abduction and attempted surprise wedding.
• The author demonstrates skill by switching scenes, immersing readers in both situations.

Events at Don Abbondio's House

• Don Abbondio reads a book by the philosopher Carneades, provided by a neighboring priest, highlighting Don Abbondio's trivial pursuits and lack of awareness of real-world problems.
• Perpetua informs Don Abbondio of Tonio's visit to repay his debt.
• While Perpetua is calling Tonio to come inside, Agnese interrupts by greeting Perpetua.
• Agnese stalls Perpetua by touching on a sensitive topic: Perpetua's unmarried status.
• They move away from the entrance, allowing Renzo and Lucia to enter unseen, signaled by Agnese coughing.
• The engaged couple hides behind the door, close enough to act but out of sight.
• Lucia is silent, her heart pounding due to her conflict with the surprise wedding plan.
• Tonio's conversation with the priest reveals the priest's extreme greed and distrust and confirms that the money is real and is the right amount.
• Don Abbondio demands a receipt, which is a ploy to allow Renzo and Lucia to enter while he's distracted.
• At the signal, Renzo and Lucia emerge to pronounce their marital vows, but Lucia fails due to nerves and the priest throwing a rug over her head.
• Don Abbondio yells for help.

Author's Reflection

• The author reflects that Renzo appears to be the oppressor, but he is the one being oppressed in the story.
• A similar point was made earlier in the story.
• The author uses irony to highlight that oppressors can feel oppressed.

Aftermath

• Don Abbondio calls for Ambrogio to ring the church bells, alarming the village.
• Some villagers immediately prepare to defend themselves, while others stay in bed or merely watch.

Events at Lucia's House

• The thugs had planned and prepared beforehand with code names and reconnaissance.
• One thug, Grignapoco, was authorized to speak in case of trouble, to prevent suspicion from falling on Don Rodrigo.
• When thugs find the house empty, they see Menico and threaten to kill him.
• The two events (kidnapping and wedding) intersect as church bells scare the thugs, who disperse.
• Griso rallies the thugs to retreat in an organized fashion, which is hard.

Escape

• Agnese tries to follow Perpetua but must be subtle.
• Perpetua runs off as she she hears Menico yelling.
• Perpetua encounters the engaged couple and asks what they are doing there.
• Renzo, Lucia, and Agnese reunite and escape, and Menico tells them to flee to the convent, which he saw as a sign of divine intervention.
• They flee without preparing, which was the result of the situation.
• They travel out of the city without talking.
• They send Menico home and give him his coins.
• Renzo, Lucia, and Agnese arrive at the Pescarenico convent.
• The priest welcomes them, while the sacristan is scandalized to host women at night.
• The priest says "omnia munda mundis" (everything is pure for the pure) meaning that they have committed sins.
• Fra Cristoforo tells the couple that the things are happening the way they are because that is what god wants.
• They are told to pray to God.
• They all pray together even for Don Rodrigo.

Farewell to the Mountains

-This is the end of Chapter VIII

Sequence 1: Nostalgia and Sadness

• This chapter starts with Lucia feeling nostalgia for her home.
• Quote: Addio, monti sorgenti
• Her nostalgia is a sadness that is caused by not being able to live the life she imagined in her home.
• She is sad not because she has to leave, but because her homeland feels distant.

Sequence 2: Aversion to the Plains and City

• The people in the city are not like Lucia.
• Lucia is having to leave her homeland because it is not safe.
• Quote: How much further it advances

Sequence 3: Farewell to Home

• Lucia says goodbye to her home and realizes there is no sense of security on her land.
• Even Renzo's home is foreign to her now.
• Quote: Goodbye, home

Sequence 4: Farewell to the Church

• Lucia is a very religious person.
• She believes that all thing happen for a reason and are part of God's plan.
• Quote: Goodbye, Church