The Adventure of a Traveler - Response

   Through metaphor and clever description of ordinary events, Italo Calvino is able to make the process of riding on a train seem like an adventure (as the name implies). Not only does the story become an adventure, but it becomes a relatable one when the simplest task (purchasing a ticket, trying to sleep, changing clothes) is recounted in a way that reveals the quirks of our main character Federico V. As I read, I found myself relating to the compulsions of the character, but I related in a way that made me rethink the detriments of these compulsions. Do I "hype things up" instead of living in the moment, and what effect does that have on my life? Being that our main character is on his way to Rome, I couldn't help but make associations between his actions that I relate to and the Roman virtue of Gravitas. Are my efforts and energy being used constructively reach my goals?

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