A cut to the jugular vein in the neck that delivers blood to the brain will result in death within a minute. When Lila rushed to defend Elena from the advances of Marcello she threw her body which was half the size of Marcello and pinned him against his car at the same time whipping out her shoemakers knife and pressing it against his throat (pg135). When Marcello’s brother says “Don’t worry Marc this whore doesn’t have the guts.” “Come here” Lila replies “come here and you’ll find out if I have the guts.” Would Lila have killed Marcello? We don’t know but we do know that Lila is an independent thinker with the rare combination of beauty, high intelligence and street smarts. Although at this point Lila may not be fully aware of her beauty and it’s effects on men.

This is the second time that Ferrante exposes death or threat of death by a cut to the neck. The first time it was the actual murder of Don Achille (pg 83) which resulted in the gusting of blood so strong that it painted the hanging pots on the wall. Lila’s threat to Marcello only resulted in a small drop of blood but I believes it gives us a understanding or better yet an insight into her fearlessness. In a world surrounded by poverty, crime and violence there are many ways that one can threaten or injury another person. A cut to the neck is meant to be fatal. It is why this passage of Lila action displays the importance of respect and the result of disrespect in the daily lives of Napoletani.