Italo CalvinoÆs short story The Adventure of a Traveler focuses on the trip to Rome by train of Frederico V., a man desperately in love with Cinzia U. The plot unfolds in a unique manner. Throughout his journey the traveler is extremely excited in anticipation that his journey is one of love. All obstacles in the travelerÆs way ôseemed to exist for his pleasure in confronting and overcoming themö (Calvino 163). The traveler cannot be disturbed during his journey, though many other travelers interrupt his desire for solitude. Nevertheless, the plot revolves around his delighted anticipation that his is a journey of love. He is so delighted at the prospect of going to see Cinzia that even the railroads seem ôdeliberately built to bear him triumphantly to Cinziaö (Calvino 164).
As his journey continues, everything he sees or comes in contact with only reminds him of the beloved he is set to meet. His pillow represents an ôisland of freshness,ö the train moves with ôan amorous, caressing motion, and he hums the tune of a song that the speed of the train prompts in him, ôJÆai deux amoursö (Calvino 165). The travelerÆs demeanor is one of lightness and air. He cannot think of much else except of the reward of his journey. We are told by the narrator that the traveler has a unique ability to block out anything in his conscious mind that he does not wish to deal with, ôHis forte had always been his ability to dismiss from the area of his thoughts any aspect of reality that upset him or was of no use to himö (Calvino 166).
The travelerÆs ability to do this is important to the plot development. He continuously obsesses about the object of his journey, one that is viewed through the eyes of love. He is seized with a desire to sing and once again the song is one of love, ôJe voyage en amour!ö (Calvino 166). The narrator informs us that the traveler is not upset when other passengers act in
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