University of North Florida

Suor Angelica

Synopsis

The action takes place in a convent in the later part of the seventeenth century.

In the little convent, daily life seems to go on in peace. The nuns say their prayers, do penance, perform their simple tasks, and even dream of innocent unfulfilled desires. Only Sister Angelica seems deeply restless. Since her arrival at the convent seven years before, she has had no news of the outside world. Angelica is ushered to the parlatory and told that a visitor has arrived wishing to speak to her. It is her Princess-Aunt, a stern, imperious aristocrat who has come to discuss matters of inheritance with her niece. Almost matter-of-factly she informs Angelica that her child (a child of sin, and the reason why Angelica’s family banished her to a convent) died of a dread disease two years before. The Princess leaves, and Angelica, seized by great anguish, prepares a poisonous drink from some herbs and drinks it. Suddenly realizing that the sin of suicide has damned her, she begs the Madonna to save her, and the miracle does occur, while all the other sisters are gathered around: the Madonna appears, leading a little blond child all dressed in white, Angelica’s child, who will lead her to Paradise.