Section 3, Pages 17-34 Summary

Giulio Lovisi, a cosmetics shop owner on the Corso closes up and steps out into the early evening. Over the course of his thirty years in this location, he recalls the many things that change including women's hemlines and automobiles. On his way home, he stops at a church to pray. His wife, Giuseppa, makes his life miserable. As he prays, he reflects on his unhappy life. No matter how hard he tries, he cannot appease his wife. Giulio remembers how, during his days in the army, Giuseppa ran the shop. During his absence, a wealthy banker regularly came by and courted her. She throws it in his face that this happened and the good life that she could have had. Giuseppa is also a jealous woman by nature. In a rage, she forces Giulio to fire a young...