One Italian Summer

Katy’s perception of herself depends greatly on her mother’s opinion and societal standards. At the beginning of the novel, Katy feels lost without Carol, and she ultimately does not know how to move forward with her life. Both Katy and Carol are on a journey for self-discovery as they attempt to understand their identities outside of being wives and mothers or daughters. During her trip to Positano, Katy not only learns more about herself and who she is, but she also discovers Carol’s identity as a woman independent from the roles of wife and mother. Serle hence uses setting to represent and reflect internal states in the novel.

At the beginning of the novel, the confined setting of California reflects Katy’s uncertain sense of identity. Before going to Positano, Katy looks at Eric and thinks, “now here we are, experiencing all that life has to deal out, and it has broken us. It’s broken me” (18). Serle begins Katy’s observation with a statement of the setting, “here we are,” to emphasize that her sense of confinement relates to her need to discover her identity. Katy lumps herself with Eric just as she does with her mother. She does not view herself as a single person, but she positions her identity alongside those whom she cares about the most. By believing that life’s experiences have broken her, Katy feels trapped and powerless. She feels confined in her marriage, believing that she must be responsible for Eric.

The trip to Positano allows Katy to break free from the preconceived notions of who she must be and how she must behave. During her trip, she makes decisions for herself like having sex with Adam Westbrooke and granting herself the time to simply relax on the beach at Capri. This frees her from feeling confined and provides her with power and agency over her own choices, allowing her to gain a more hopeful outlook on life.

The parallel narratives of Carol and Katy are reflected in the fact that they share the experience of discovering their identity through travel. The discovery that Carol left Chuck and Katy as a baby to pursue her dream of being an interior designer in Positano dismantles Katy’s perception of both her and her mom. Carol, who was overwhelmed with life as a mother and wife, found solace in Italy, and she used that as an opportunity to explore her identity outside of the domestic sphere. Katy not only gains a better understanding of herself, but she also recognizes both her and Carol’s individuality: “I am my own, just as she was hers (239).

Serle uses the setting of Italy to create space emotionally and physically for Katy and Carol to understand their identities. Just like her mother, Katy lost a sense of self. By traveling alone to a foreign city, they are able to spend time alone and with new people that do not know them. Therefore, they can utilize this time to understand their own interests, desires, and needs, while Katy gains a better sense of who her mother is at the same time.