Matilde Icardi

Thesis:

After graduating in classics from the University of Turin, I pursued a master's degree in Philology, Literature, and History of Antiquity at the same institution, focusing on the rediscovery of antiquity during the Renaissance. My research interests include classical literature and its reception, Renaissance studies, and women's studies.

My thesis aims to comprehensively examine the correlation between gender and violence in Early Modern Italian comic theatre, analysing female figures and comic production based on the social, cultural and literary context of the time. The normalization of gender-based violence in early modern society is well-documented. Theatrical representations draw parallels between real life and drama, shedding light on how real-life issues are transformed into fictional scenarios. The objective of the thesis is to systematically analyse comic depictions of violence and explore their role as a form of entertainment. I will particularly focus on the evolution of women's roles over time and compare the portrayal of violence by male and female writers.