La tragedia Eretteo (1814) di F.B. Cicala: una moderna sensibilità antitirannica

Abstract: Between the Neapolitan Revolution and the Borbonic restoration the Eretteo tragedy has a happy ending; the author F. B. Cicala (1765-1815) wants to overcome the revolutionary bloodbath (1799) with a renewed sensitivity. He fights divine, inexplicable and absurd wills that demand innocent victims; the negative character is embodied by the High Priest, who is iniquitous and greedy for absolute power. F. B. Cicala warns the community against any superstitious and ruinous subservience to a bloody religion. He attacks the exploitation of religion for the lowest purposes, as a superstitious, oppressive and never liberating practice. Cicala seems to echo L.A. Muratori: as the voice of nature, the God‘s truth supports the oppressed innocent and comforts the first affections and human life. King Eretteo‘s son cheers up his father and kills the evil minister of religion.