ITAL 20X Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Bicycle Thieves
The Bicycle Thieves
• Post WWII Rome- vibrant city
• Divided Italy- majority are struggling workers, small group of elites
• Bike is a symbol of modern society and working class/economic
emancipation
• Not many people have cars, many use public transportation, most have
bikes
• Fascism vs. Communism: In 1943, Italy switched from Fascism
(Mussolini/Hitler) to Communism
• Biking is an important Italian sport- famous cyclists Bartoli (Fascism) and
Coppi (Communism)
• Bicycle: symbol of emancipation, find job, mobility
• Poster: American actress (diva- blond, big hair), advertising Hollywood
films, Italians like America bc they represent liberty & fun
• Church: Catholic, most people are working class, upper class people
serving poorer citizens, must pray for what they need (pray, then eat);
helps poor but churchgoers aren’t free to lead religion as they wish bc
don’t have the means so must stand by what the church wants
• Rome: vibrant, used to be home of Fascism (Mussolini), most are working
class living on outskirts of city in tall crowded buildings
• Represents working class
• Changing society represented by posters bc people interested in seeing
movies, communal social spaces under buildings (union issues,
entertainment)
Themes
• Father and son: Bruno saves Antonio in the end (not arrested); Bruno
represents mature side of Antonio while the latter is sometimes naive;
emotional connection bc Antonio cares about Bruno & wants to make him
proud but difficult; Maria (wife/women) not supposed to get involved in
“men’s” issues
• Dishonor: Antonio feels cheated by authorities; tempted to steal bike bc so
helpless & starts crying at end and feels shame
• Class juxtaposition (working vs middle class): church, restaurant (etiquette,
behavior); upper middle class look down on working class
• Embarrassment: Bruno & Antonio feel embarrassed about their actions
• Temptation: Antonio steals bike bc feels anxious about not having a job;
even good people will do things out of desperation
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