Importance of Italy

Italy is a significant location in Age of Anger because it was the site of and birthplace of many nationalist movements over the past few centuries. For example, D'Annunzio, Mazzini, and many more are mentioned by Mishra as Italian nationalists, each with their own grievances against the 'old orders' and 'old elites' and each with their own visions for how to create change. With Mazzini's ideas of self-empowerment, heroism, and national unification came a great, sweeping effort to unify Italy, one which had to fail before it could succeed decades later. The country is therefore a good example of a place in which 'ressentiment' and disillusionment existed alongside ideals of heroism and militant nationalist salvation.