Invisible Cities
“Cities and Signs” of Calvino’s Invisible Cities
In page 15 of Invisible Cities, Marco Polo makes his way towards the city of Tamara. His observation of signs before entering Tamara has lost its personality upon entering the city. In the outskirts of Tamara, Marco Polo sees signs that are not at first glance obvious: an imprint of a tiger, stream, and flower. He recognizes these signs because it invokes some sort of emotion within him; the imprint of a tiger invokes fear in the possibility of dying in a slaughter, the movement of water down a stream inspires liveliness, and a spring flower of hope. However, upon entering the city of Tamara, Marco Polo sees signboards “jutting” out into the streets, forcibly pronouncing its meaning to the readers; you only have to read it to understand what the signs are trying to convey, preventing him from formulating his perception of the city. The signs act as a boundary (trespass) that insulates the city against outsiders. Thesis: In this passage, Calvino makes an analogy between the abstractness of signs and the worth of power, making the point that just words on a sign post are insubstantial, so is the power that everyone struggles for.
The signs outside buildings are a show of power and status that intends to ward off outsiders. As Marco Polo walks through Tamara, he is struck instantly by signs that describe the storeowners’ profession: “The eye does not see things but images of things that mean other things: pincers point out the tooth-drawer’s house, a tankard, the tavern; halberds, the barracks; scales, the grocer’s.” The pincers, halberds, and scales that he refer to are representative of status in society and the power that come along with it; power that the Tamarians and the king are all attempting to gain throughout the story. Marco Polo refers to the signs as images of abstract ideas. Through this reference he states that status is ultimately inconsequential as it is an abstract concept that only serves to
In page 15 of Invisible Cities, Marco Polo makes his way towards the city of Tamara. His observation of signs before entering Tamara has lost its personality upon entering the city. In the outskirts of Tamara, Marco Polo sees signs that are not at first glance obvious: an imprint of a tiger, stream, and flower. He recognizes these signs because it invokes some sort of emotion within him; the imprint of a tiger invokes fear in the possibility of dying in a slaughter, the movement of water down a stream inspires liveliness, and a spring flower of hope. However, upon entering the city of Tamara, Marco Polo sees signboards “jutting” out into the streets, forcibly pronouncing its meaning to the readers; you only have to read it to understand what the signs are trying to convey, preventing him from formulating his perception of the city. The signs act as a boundary (trespass) that insulates the city against outsiders. Thesis: In this passage, Calvino makes an analogy between the abstractness of signs and the worth of power, making the point that just words on a sign post are insubstantial, so is the power that everyone struggles for.
The signs outside buildings are a show of power and status that intends to ward off outsiders. As Marco Polo walks through Tamara, he is struck instantly by signs that describe the storeowners’ profession: “The eye does not see things but images of things that mean other things: pincers point out the tooth-drawer’s house, a tankard, the tavern; halberds, the barracks; scales, the grocer’s.” The pincers, halberds, and scales that he refer to are representative of status in society and the power that come along with it; power that the Tamarians and the king are all attempting to gain throughout the story. Marco Polo refers to the signs as images of abstract ideas. Through this reference he states that status is ultimately inconsequential as it is an abstract concept that only serves to