Essays · Chapter
Italy Also! explained
The chapter laments Italy's entry into World War I, criticizing the government, capitalists, and Republicans for deceiving the masses with nationalist rhetoric while suppressing anarchists.
What happens
The chapter laments Italy's entry into World War I, criticizing the government, capitalists, and Republicans for deceiving the masses with nationalist rhetoric while suppressing anarchists. It argues that war serves the monarchy and capitalism, not the people, and reaffirms the anarchist commitment to a war for liberty, equality, and brotherhood against government and capitalism.
Free preview opens on this chapter — companions, themes, and character notes appear beside the text.
Narrative arc
Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Falling action.
- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
This is the story's dramatic climax because it marks the emotional and ideological rupture between the author…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingThemes in this chapter
- Critique of Government and Authority
The chapter condemns the Italian government for using patriotism and war to enslave workers, and for suppressing anarchists.
- Critique of Private Property and Capitalism
Italian capitalists are accused of enriching themselves through war profiteering, while workers are deceived and sacrificed.
- Internationalism and Anti-Patriotism
The chapter rejects nationalism and patriotism as tools of the ruling class, advocating for worker brotherhood across borders.
- Role of the Masses and Direct Action
The masses are easily deceived by lies, but the anarchists' influence and the people's future experience will lead to renewed struggle.
Characters to notice
- Anarchists
Remain loyal to their anti-war flag, are imprisoned by the Italian government, and are feared for their influence on the masses.
- the masters
The Italian capitalists enrich themselves by selling to Germany and Austria, and the government tries to sell neutrality for territorial gains.
- Socialists
The great majority of Socialists and Syndicalists were solid against war, but Italy was still dragged into the slaughter.
- Bolshevists
Not directly mentioned; omitted as no clear reference.
Key passages
“The Italian Government has felt that it was not safe to make war without suppressing every liberty, and putting in prison a great number of Anarchists.”
The Italian government realized it had to crush freedoms and jail many anarchists before it could safely go to war.
Highlights the government's fear of anarchist influence and its repressive measures.
“patriotism, nationalism, racial rivalry are only means for enslaving the workers, and that their salvation lies in the abolition of Government and Capitalism.”
Patriotism and nationalism are tools to keep workers in bondage; true freedom comes only from ending both government and capitalism.
Core anarchist critique of nationalism as a form of worker enslavement.
“They say that they go to war for the liberation of the peoples from foreign domination, and they try to inflame the young men with the glories of the Italian struggle against the Austrian tyranny; but they try to crush into submission the Arabs of Tripoli, they want to keep the Greek islands...”
Italy claims to fight for liberation but simultaneously oppresses Arabs in Tripoli, occupies Greek islands, and seeks territorial expansion in Asia Minor and Dalmatia.
Exposes the hypocrisy of Italian war propaganda versus its imperialist actions.
