Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Captain Corelli’s Mandolin, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
War: Horror, Beauty, and Humanity
Power, Reality, and Absurdity
History and Storytelling
Politics and Friendship
Family, Opportunity, and Gender Dynamics
Summary
Analysis
Kokolios wakes in the middle of the night to the sound of his chickens in distress. He figures that Psipsina is in his coop again and vows to kill her. He pulls on his boots, grabs his makeshift club, and goes outside naked. Kokolios discovers two Italian soldiers in his coop and beats them. Finally, he grabs them by their collars and drags them to Dr. Iannis's house. Dr. Iannis, Pelagia, and Corelli all come outside and are shocked by what they see, especially since the Italian soldiers still have their guns. Corelli goes inside and Dr. Iannis teases Kokolios about his rage not quite matching up with his communist beliefs.
The fact that the Italians didn't fight back against Kokolios is one indicator that they do see the Greeks as worthy opponents and not as playthings to kill on a whim. When Dr. Iannis takes the opportunity to give Kokolios a hard time about communism, it shows that even the war and the Italian invasion hasn't diminished the role that arguing about politics plays in Greek friendships.
Themes
Corelli returns with his revolver and motions for both soldiers to lie on the ground. He yells at them to crawl to Kokolios and lick his boots. Kokolios finally remembers he's naked and runs home. Pelagia laughs, but Corelli isn't done. He slaps his men, sends them away, and then rants that everyone is hungry.
Corelli's willingness to humiliate his soldiers shows that he truly believes that the Greeks don't deserve to be treated as lesser people just because they're not the conquerors.
Themes
Two days later, Pelagia discovers her goat missing. Corelli finds her crying and promises to get her another goat, but she yells that the Italians are all thieves. The shame nearly crushes him.
Corelli's shame functions as a reminder that it's not enough to punish soldiers for theft some of the time; those thefts still have dire consequences for the victims.
Themes
