The Piazza

Analyze the deviations from the archetypal hero’s journey in “The Piazza.” Discuss how these deviations serve to critique traditional narrative structures and what they reveal about Melville’s perspective on the nature of heroism.

Explore the implications of the narrator’s decision to withhold from Marianna the fact that he lives in the house she admires. What does this choice reveal about his character and the theme Appearance Versus Reality in the story?

Discuss “The Piazza” as a metaphor for Herman Melville’s own experiences and struggles as a writer. How might the story reflect his disillusionment with the literary world and his own creative journey?