Unveiling the Tortured Existence of Roberto Saviano: A Life under Mafia's Shadow
Roberto Saviano resides under heavy protection due to threats following his exposé on the Neapolitan mafia.
By Andrea Affaticati, Milan
In a heart-rending interview with the Italian daily "Corriere della Sera," renowned author Roberto Saviano admits to contemplating suicide multiple times. The 44-year-old Neapolitan, renowned for his groundbreaking book "Gomorrah," which dared to shed light on the nefarious activities of the Camorra—the Neapolitan mafia—has been under police protection for the past two decades, living a life marred by fear and isolation.
A Harsh Reality: The Price of Truth
"Gomorrah," published in 2006, sent shockwaves across the world, painting an unvarnished picture of the Camorra's structure and operations. This candid portrayal came at a personal cost, leaving Saviano living under the constant threat of retaliation.
One Camorra boss, Francesco Bidognetti, alias Cicciotto di Mezzanotte, and his lawyer made it abundantly clear that Saviano's days were numbered, predicting his death within five years [1]. At the time of this grim pronouncement, Saviano was just 26 years old, and his life turned into a seemingly never-ending battle for survival.
The Guilt of Survival
Saviano recounts the loss of his beloved aunt, whose funeral he attended alone. His parents had to move to northern Italy in 2006, leaving their former home in Caserta out of concern for their son [2]. Despite relocating, they never truly made a home for themselves up north, a consequence of the constant danger that hung over their heads due to their son's exposed life.
The Specter of Danger or a Staged Fear?
While the Camorristi who wish him dead form one side of the story, the ordinary Neapolitans who cannot forgive Saviano for his unflinchingly honest portrayal of their city present another perspective. It is often forgotten that his book, far from being a malicious smear, was an accurate reflection of the criminal activities rampant in Naples. In fact, his courageous expose paved the way for a safer environment in some neighborhoods [2].
The Political Co-Optation of a Truth-Seeker
Saviano belongs to the intellectual community that has been co-opted by politics. Both the left and right factions carry him close to their hearts, while national-populist Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini [4] would love nothing more than to withdraw his police protection [2]. Additionally, Saviano is frequently questioned about the necessity of his police protection given that he has survived for two decades without any major incident [2].
The Rushdie Paradox
In the interview, Saviano refers to his long-time friend, Indian-British writer Salman Rushdie, whose life was threatened by a fatwa issued after his book "The Satanic Verses" was published in 1988. Like Rushdie, Saviano lives under the constant fear of violence, with a bounty on his head [2].
While Rushdie defied the danger and resumed living freely for a while, Saviano points out the irony that Rushdie now feels relieved after a stabbing attack in 2022, which left him seriously injured. The attack forced the world to stop treating the fatwa as just a theatrical spectacle [2].
The Psychological Toll
Living under constant police protection imposes two burdens on Saviano: being criticized for sensationalizing the danger and seeking attention, and constantly questioning how to break free from this captivity. The fear of death and the reality of living a life rundown by security protocols have taken a heavy toll on his mental health, leaving him battling anxiety and a sense of imprisonment [1].
The Loneliness of the Condemned
As if the constant fear of violence wasn't enough, Saviano's restricted mobility constrains his social interactions, limiting his freedom and inflicting on him a life of loneliness. Even love, a basic human need, eludes him due to his confinement [1].
The Envy of the Imprisoned
On the rare occasion of getting a glimpse of freedom, like when he met Philip Roth, the celebrated author expressed a sentiment of understanding: "I'd never be jealous of a shitty life like yours." This sentiment reflects the grim reality Saviano has to endure, and while he would trade his life for a different one, he often harbors doubts about whether he has wasted his life [1].
Sources:- ntv.de
- Italy
- Mafia
- Italian Mafia
- Roberto Saviano, under police protection for two decades due to the nefarious Camorra's threats, discusses multiple suicidal contemplations in an interview with the Italian daily "Corriere della Sera."
- In the interview, Saviano recalls the lonely funeral of his aunt and the relocation of his parents to northern Italy out of fear for his safety, which never allowed them to feel truly at home.
- The ordinary Neapolitans, while critical of Saviano's portrayal of their city, cannot deny that his expose paved the way for a safer environment in some neighborhoods.
- Matteo Salvini, the national-populist Deputy Prime Minister, has expressed a desire to withdraw Saviano's police protection, while both the left and right factions cherish him as part of the intellectual community co-opted by politics.
- Comparing his life to that of Salman Rushdie, who survived a stabbing attack in 2022, Saviano reflects on the irony of his existence, living under constant fear with a bounty on his head yet yearning for freedom and normalcy.
