Those Who Leave and Those Who Stay (The Neapolitan Novels #3) Summary & Key Insights

Elena Greco and Lila Cerullo's complicated relationship continues to dominate Elena Ferrante's Those Who Leave and Those Who Stay, the third installment of the Neapolitan Novels. The novel spans several decades, picking up after Lila's tumultuous marriage and Elena's move to Florence for university. Their diverging paths – Lila's rooted in Naples amidst poverty and family drama, and Elena's striving for academic success in a more sophisticated environment – become increasingly central to the narrative.

Lila, fiercely independent and intellectually brilliant, finds herself trapped in a suffocating marriage to Stefano Carracci, a violent and manipulative man. Her attempts to escape his control lead her to work in a sausage factory and engage in increasingly risky ventures, including a clandestine collaboration with a powerful businessman. These experiences highlight her resilience and refusal to be defined by societal expectations, despite the constant threat to her safety and well-being.

Elena, meanwhile, navigates the complexities of university life and romantic relationships in Florence. She grapples with the weight of her ambitions, feeling the pull of her past and the lingering influence of Lila. Her relationships, often fraught with insecurity and dependence, serve as a contrast to Lila's more visceral and rebellious approach to life. While Elena achieves academic success, she struggles to reconcile her intellectual growth with the emotional turmoil caused by her ongoing connection to Lila and her inability to fully escape her Neapolitan roots.

The overarching theme of the novel is the enduring power of their friendship, even as their lives diverge dramatically. Despite their disagreements and the vast differences in their choices, Lila and Elena remain inextricably linked. Their constant communication – through letters and sporadic meetings – reveals their shared past and the enduring impact of their childhood on their adult lives. The novel explores themes of class, gender, and social mobility within the context of post-war Italy. It depicts the challenges faced by women in a patriarchal society and the limitations placed upon them based on their socioeconomic backgrounds.

The novel also delves into the complexities of ambition and success, contrasting Elena's pursuit of academic fulfillment with Lila's pragmatic and intuitive approach to life. Both women struggle to reconcile their aspirations with the realities of their lives, revealing the pervasive influence of their impoverished neighborhood and the seemingly inescapable constraints of their origins. Ultimately, Those Who Leave and Those Who Stay highlights the enduring strength and fragility of female friendship against the backdrop of a rapidly changing Italy, leaving the reader yearning for the next chapter in their tumultuous lives.