How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
"When we married and she was sixteen I found that rather exalting; but now… seven children I've had with her, seven; and never once have I seen her navel." (1.68)
Fabrizio isn't all that enthusiastic about his marriage now that he and his wife are old. When they were younger, he found his wife exciting. But over time he's come to realize that she's a prude and that he wouldn't mind someone will a little more passion in bed—and not the religious kind of passion.
Quote #2
In the matrimonial bedroom, glancing at poor Stella with her hair well tucked into her nightcap, sighing as she slept in the huge, high brass bed, he felt touched. (1.74)
Fabrizio isn't a totally cold, uncaring guy. As we can see here, he has moments of true tenderness for his wife, even though he usually finds her cold and prudish. It's like Lampedusa is throwing us a bone here and saying, "Okay, so maybe being married doesn't guarantee that two people will get sick of each other."
Quote #3
"Let's keep to the point, shall we? I wish to talk about this marriage, not about marriage in general. Has Don Tancredi made any definite proposal, by any chance, and if so, when?" (2.44)
Fabrizio suspects that his nephew Tancredi is going to propose to his daughter Concetta. Unfortunately, Tancredi falls in love with Angelica just when his romance with Concetta is at its peak, and he ends up breaking the poor girl's heart by marrying Angelica.