Poinsettia Girl

Community plays such an impactful role in our lives. In the 18th century Venice, people would have barely strayed from the community they lived in, sharing a well and crops at the center of their campos. How did Agata’s community in San Canciano compare to the community you live in today? How is it different, better or worse?

There are three churches that a part of Agata’s life throughout her childhood and young adult life. What is the significance of them to her story? What do you think they signify to her?

One cannot discuss Venice without considering the impact of water on its design. What themes are representative in water as they relate to Venice as a whole and the Pieta in this narrative?

Agata’s father Pietro was a wounded soul. What do you think contributed to his overall attitude?

Did Guilelma make the right call in removing Agata outside of the influence of Pietro? Do you think she knew what was happening underneath her own roof?

Agata suffered a traumatic loss losing her mother at such a young age, but she had many women across her lifetime play a mother figure. Discuss who you think who those women were and the impact they had on Agata personally.

Guilelma (Nonna), Benedetta and Alba were a connected trio. Does their dependence upon one another echo current relationships in your life? Is that still attainable in our more disconnected world?

The Pieta was run like a nunnery its schedule mimicking the office of the hours. What do you think it would be like to live in a world where spontaneous conversation was not only discouraged but unwelcomed? How would you handle that and how do you think it affected the women and girls and their capacity to grow and heal within the walls of the Pieta?

Friendships play an important role on either side of the green door, particularly kinship among women. Describe some of the aspects of friendship outside the green door and compare them to the ones inside the Pieta.

Discuss the impact of light and dark imagery -especially inside the Pieta. How does if differ from our modern-day relationship with day/light versus night/dark?

Due to the six-month long festivities and allure of Carnival, late Renaissance Venice had a bit of an abandoned child issue. They ran four major Ospedale’s across the city were in response to that. Do you think the overall concept on the Ospedale della Pieta was a good one? Why or why not?

The man in the red jacket is presented as a bit of a mystery to the reader, but Antonio Vivaldi was historically one of the Pieta’s biggest contributors and definitely the most celebrated musician in Venice’s history. As a modern reader, do you think the role and impact of men was overplayed as hinted at in the novel? Or do you think the women may have been more subdued and controlled? (ie, maestras, prioress, etc.).

Have you either been to a concert or sung Gloria in D by Vivaldi? (someone cue music!) It is often sung at Easter in church services/masses. Did you realize that all the parts were written for all women to play and sing? Would it have sounded different sung by all women?

In the early 18th Century, the common man would not have been exposed to music outside his own propensity to sing. Interestingly, the Catholic church did not even have choirs with women in them at time. What layers of response do you think the general populous would have had in response to not only girls singing, but girls performing and further, performing in church? Considering that, do you think the Poinsettia Girls were considered a commodity of Venice or did the favor of educating the girls with such skills outweigh that?

Considering the societal norms in the above question discuss how you think a Poinsettia Girl might view herself?

The women that performed in the Coro had a dowry saved from their years teaching so that they would have something to offer if a marriage proposal came in. On the exterior it sounds positive that an orphan child raised in confinement could have the opportunity to marry and manage her own home. But on the other side, do you think the idea of someone choosing a woman from the sound of her voice sexist, and/or immoral? Is it possible for a healthy marriage to come out of such a circumstance?

How do you feel about the rule that stated a Poinsettia Girl was not to use her musical skills once she left/married the Pieta. Is this a fair ask? Why do you think they would require this?