Characters
The first narrator
The first narrator, possibly a knight, is a weary traveler who stumbles upon a mysterious castle deep within a forest. Joining the other guests, he becomes involved in recounting tales through tarot cards, a process that is deeply tied to his own experiences. Exhausted from his numerous trials and battles, he finds his perceptions muddled and his mind unstable, contributing to a significant theme of uncertainty in interpreting the narratives. This confusion and instability serve as a metaphor for the difficulty of accurately reconstructing stories from symbolic representations. Throughout Italo Calvino’s narrative, the first narrator, along with his counterpart, acts as an interpreter of the tarot cards. Although they guide the unfolding of each story, their interpretations are subject to the myriad readings offered by others, who fill in the narrative gaps as needed. The tarot cards, displayed along the narrative's margins, empower readers to step into the narrator's role, crafting their interpretations or challenging the ones presented.
The second narrator
The second narrator, much like the first, is drawn into a silent banquet of travelers, all of whom communicate their adventures using the tarot deck. He too finds himself lost in the forest’s enigmatic depths, his hair white from sudden fright. Mirror-like, he sees his reflection in the Knight of Swords, the Hermit, and the Juggler cards. He describes himself as a writer, his impetuous nature and anxiety reminiscent of a warrior. His journey as a writer is depicted in famous paintings of Saint Jerome and Saint George. The Hermit, representing solitude and a quest for order amidst chaos, mirrors Saint Jerome. In contrast, Saint George, the dragon-slayer, exemplifies his struggle with personal and external demons. Through these images, he embodies the innumerable travelers striving to recount and interpret the elusive meanings of their lives.
The alchemist
The alchemist, representing himself with the King of Cups tarot card, is intricately tied to the legendary Faust, who made a pact with the devil in pursuit of alchemical secrets. His storytelling commences with the Ace of Cups and the Popess cards, weaving an intricate narrative that follows a knight’s tale. The alchemist’s style is elliptical and allusive, challenging his audience to grasp the manifold symbolic possibilities of the tarot cards he employs. His tale, rich with the complex depths of the Faust legend, leaves listeners restless and yearning for a clearer exposition.
Roland
Roland, the colossal knight from Charlemagne’s legends, is symbolized by the King of Swords card. Emphasized by his slow, deliberate movements of leaden arms and ironlike fingers, Roland's presence is both domineering and formidable. He hoards the most exquisite tarot cards, narrating a vivid tale of his madness while pursuing Angelica. As his story unfolds, Roland undergoes a remarkable transformation. Concluding with the card of the Hanged Man, he attains a serene, radiant expression, signifying his acceptance of reason over the uncontrolled passion that once led to his downfall.
Astolpho
Astolpho, depicted as a small, humorous, and childlike English knight from Ludovico Ariosto’s Orlando furioso, is recognized for restoring Roland’s wits. Upon discovering him among the guests, the first narrator hands Astolpho the Knight of Clubs card. Playfully, he tosses it into the air, and upon its landing, he begins recounting Charlemagne’s mission to send him to the moon to retrieve Roland’s reason. This tale continues the theme of defeat interwoven through the guests’ narratives. Astolpho concludes cryptically, hinting at failure and foreboding, as he describes the moon not as a place of harmony, but as a barren desert, an empty horizon where all poems and discourse commence and cease.
The Queen of Clubs
(This entire section contains 805 words.)
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The Queen of Clubs
The Queen of Clubs is a towering maiden with formidable arms and hands, identifying herself with this tarot card. She propels the narrative by managing the tarot cards amidst the frenzy of the other guests, who threaten to disrupt the order. With authority, she seizes control of the cards, subduing her fellow storytellers. Once order is restored, she shares her narrative of bearing twins with a prince and subsequently dominating his father. Within Calvino’s narrative framework, characters are often cast into categories such as folkloric, mythic, and literary types, each bearing a hamartia or tragic flaw that often leads to ruinous missteps. The Ingrate, for instance, rejects the love of a woman who saves him, resulting in his condemnation in the forest of self-loss, a recurring motif among Calvino’s storytellers. Simultaneously, Astolpho’s journey to reclaim Roland’s reason reveals the inevitable madness that crowns human endeavors. These quests invariably return to the center of an empty horizon, much like the Waverer, who, despite nearing the "City of All," fails due to indecisiveness. His journey ends in confrontation with his other self, a man who cannot choose due to his double’s reluctance to decide.
