The Sicilian Inheritance

Serafina Forte is the dual protagonist as the narrative alternates, telling her story against the contemporary protagonist Sara. Serafina is Aunt Rosie’s mother and Sara’s namesake. In the modern timeline, Serafina exists as a tragic matriarchal figure. Family lore portrays her as a saintly woman who bravely stayed behind to raise her family in Sicily when her husband left for a job in the US. Village legend, however, paints a different picture. The stories say she was a witch, a woman of ill repute who was brutally murdered. After Aunt Rosie dies, Sara learns that her aunt wants her to travel to Sicily to claim Rosie’s inheritance, which Serafina left behind, and finally solve the mystery of her death. Though the contemporary timeline focuses on how Serafina died, the past timeline elevates the story of how Serafina lived. Serafina comes alive as a woman defying societal expectations. Forced to abandon her education and marry young, she thirsts for knowledge and yearns for a different life.

Serafina struggles to balance her career and family: “Since becoming a mother, I barely had time to remember all the things I once wanted, all the lives I hoped to lead, but sometimes the desire all flooded back, and I felt a small death” (86). Serafina, like Sara, needs to be revived to free herself from a life that makes her feel trapped.

Despite the limitations imposed upon her, Serafina possesses a quiet strength. She uses her intelligence and resourcefulness to help the women in her village, providing them with medical knowledge and advocating for their well-being. However, not everyone in the community appreciates her tenacity. As Giusy explains: “That’s what happens when a woman is left to her own devices, and she was killed for it. She’s a cautionary tale here” (122). This act of defiance against the patriarchal structure makes Serafina a hero to the women of her community but also marks her as a pariah to those who wish to maintain the status quo.

Serafina’s mysterious death casts a shadow over the narrative. Her silenced voice and the injustice she faced captivate Sara’s heart and mind, and her journey through Sicily becomes less about claiming the land and more about solving Serafina’s murder. Once Sara discovers Serafina’s diary, the two timelines converge as she is drawn into Serafina’s world. Through the diary, and with the help of Giusy, Fina, and Agata, Sara learns about Serafina’s struggle and the fight all Sicilian women faced in grasping their independence. Serafina’s story represents the unexplored corners of Sara’s family history and all the lost and erased women’s histories. Uncovering the truth of Serafina’s life and death becomes a catalyst for Sara to shed her self-doubt and begin her life again.

As the story begins, Aunt Rosie has already passed away. However, her presence continues to impact the contemporary timeline significantly. Sara often hears her aunt’s encouraging voice, witty advice, and humorous comments, all of which provide comfort during a stressful period. Aunt Rosie’s words, “A real woman makes a good drink and lights her own fires” (8), show her as a strong and independent woman. Sara’s descriptions of Aunt Rosie depict her as a spirited and wise figure who imparts her knowledge and belief in Sara, even when Sara lacks belief in herself. By introducing Sara to her family history and the mystery surrounding Serafina, Aunt Rosie deliberately sets her niece on a path of self-discovery. This journey compels Sara to confront her challenges and ultimately leads to positive changes in her life.

Rosie connects the past and present timelines and is crucial to Sara connecting with her Sicilian heritage. By sending Sara to Sicily, Rosie enables her to deeply immerse herself in Sicilian culture, food, and history, forming a solid bond with her roots. Through learning about Serafina’s story, Sara gains a deeper understanding of her aunt’s experiences, especially realizing that Rosie’s full name is Rosalia and that she is the child of Serafina and Marco’s love affair. Serafina made great sacrifices to ensure a better and safer life for Rosalia and herself. She watched her daughter from afar, proud of what she had become. Serafina says, “I saved myself, but I also gave my daughter the chance to be her own person” (364). The Aunt Rosie that Sara knew and loved proves that Serafina’s gamble paid off. Sara’s independent, entrepreneurial spirit is part of Serafina’s legacy.

Giuseppina, who goes by Giusy, runs Hotel Palazzo Luna alone. Sara describes the feisty Sicilian woman as “a little older than my sister and dressed like a Russian assassin or a lippy soccer mom from New Jersey with her curled bangs and bright pink Adidas tracksuit” (68). Sara later learns that Giusy lives alone after her husband’s disappearance, yet she runs the hotel confidently and efficiently. This self-reliance signifies her strength and resourcefulness, especially considering the patriarchal structures present in Sicilian society. Giusy quickly becomes Sara’s tour guide and ally as she navigates the unfamiliar Sicilian culture. She shows Sara where to get the best food and explains the rules around local politics, especially those dealing with the Mafia. Giusy is also the person who reveals to Sara that Serafina was murdered, which sparks her interest in solving the mystery. 

Giusy appears financially independent, but the details surrounding her past, particularly her missing husband, are mysterious. Her tough persona and familial connections to the Cosa Nostra complicate her personality, and Sara wonders if she can fully trust her. Though Rosie hired Giusy to help Sara, it becomes increasingly evident that she has her own motives for solving the land inheritance mystery. Agata helps Sara understand Giusy by explaining, “We have a word in western Sicilian dialect, furbezza, it means ‘a devious intelligence’” (266). Giusy’s cousin Nino and his cronies begin stalking Sara, and when they violently attack her, she knows Giusy betrayed her trust. In the end, Giusy saves Sara’s life but makes no apologies for taking action to secure her and her daughter’s financial future. Giusy represents the measures women must sometimes take to protect themselves and the complicated Sicilian culture based on honor and loyalty.