In a small village, Giuseppina, known as "the She-Wolf," lives surrounded by gossip and superstition. Her insatiable desires and her notorious reputation cast a long shadow over her daughter Maricchia's prospects. Yet, despite her fierce nature, Giuseppina finds herself vulnerable in love, leading to a dramatic and ultimately tragic unfolding of events.

The She-Wolf's Reputation

Giuseppina earned the moniker "the She-Wolf" not without reason. Her endless cravings and the aura of her untamed passion made the women in the village cross themselves in her presence, fearing her reputational contagion. Even the parish priest, a bastion of morality, was said to have fallen under her spell, losing his soul to her allure. For Maricchia, Giuseppina's daughter, her mother's reputation was a burden, dimming her prospects in life. Suitors were wary, disinclined to marry someone associated with such a scandalous figure, despite Maricchia's promising dowry and substantial landholdings.

Nanni and the She-Wolf's Infatuation

Upon his return from military service, Nanni, a young villager, becomes the object of Giuseppina's fervent affection. Though much older and marked by the pale signs of malaria, her striking presence and piercing eyes capture attention, defying her years. However, her romantic pursuit hits an obstacle; Nanni desires Maricchia, not her mother. He makes his intentions clear, dismissing Giuseppina's advances with a laugh. Eventually, Giuseppina offers Maricchia to Nanni, settling on the dowry and arranging for the marriage to be formalized at Christmas.

A Reluctant Marriage and Its Consequences

Maricchia, initially repelled by Nanni's rough appearance, is coerced into marrying him under her mother's stern threats. Over the years, as she becomes engrossed in raising her children, the intensity of Giuseppina's unreciprocated love for Nanni wears her down, sapping her vitality. Nanni, content with his familial life, mocks Giuseppina's longing gaze, while Maricchia, having grown to cherish her husband, scorns her mother's continued obsession. "Her eyes burning with tears and jealousy, like a young she-wolf herself," Maricchia's disdain mirrors her mother's unfulfilled desires.

Relentless Pursuit and Its Tipping Point

Despite the derision, Giuseppina persists in visiting Nanni in the fields. Like a mistreated stray, she is repeatedly chased away, only to return each time, driven by her insatiable longing. Eventually, however, Nanni succumbs, caught in the snare of her relentless pursuit. Maricchia, sensing the shift, threatens to expose the scandal by involving the authorities. Despite her threat becoming reality, Giuseppina remains unyielding, refusing to relinquish her corner in the household she shares with the married couple.

A Life on the Brink

The narrative takes a grim turn when Nanni narrowly escapes death after a mule kicks him in the chest. The parish priest's intervention is decisive; he refuses to administer the Final Sacraments unless Giuseppina vacates the household. Nanni's recovery is marked by public penance and a desperate plea for Giuseppina to leave him be, backed by a threat of violence should she persist. Her chilling response, "Kill me, then, for it makes no difference to me; without you I have no desire to live," leaves a haunting echo, preceding the story's climax.

The Climactic Confrontation

In a final act of desperation, Giuseppina approaches Nanni once more as he toils in a vineyard. The intensity of her desire is palpable in her gaze, her hands clutching a vivid bouquet of red poppies. Nanni, gripped by a mix of fear and frustration, ceases his work, grasps his ax, and watches her approach. His curses, delivered in a stammering voice, reflect the turmoil within as the She-Wolf draws near, culminating in a tense and unresolved confrontation.