When I started reading Massa's new novel Vaganzi Sajfin I immediately remembered William Wyler's 1953 film Vacanze Romane with actors Gregory Peck and Audrey Hepburn even if the theme of both works is different. Massa's work also reminded me of more recent works by other realist writers such as Ellul Mercer, Ġużè Diacono, J. J. Camilleri, Joseph Calleja and Joseph Vella Bondin to name a few, with the difference that Massa seems to me more subtle although the characters in his writing are likewise bound to suffer whatever decision they take.
In this novel Massa presents to the reader typical Maltese families who live in the south of Malta and are experiencing difficult personal and social times. This is not only because the author is himself familiar with these parts of the island but also perhaps to show that "modernization" has reached even these areas which up to some time ago were considered as "sheltered" and "forgotten".
The old people in these families embrace the traditional values which they inherited from their forefathers, a stronghold which they are defending tooth and nail to uphold, even if they are at the end of their tethers in doing so. Against this background stands out the difference between the different generations appearing in the novel from Bastjan ‒ the most senior, to Elsie ‒ a young woman who came to Malta for a holiday and, intentionally or not, remained on the island. A span of three generations.
Due to these social changes, the family, as a social nucleus, is being threatened and very often it has to face the social consequences of the changes that take place. As a result parents end up worrying without end about their children, a psychological and physical sufferance unappreciated by the latter.
While it is a fact that, come what may, children remain one's own blood, the threats on this institution are not only the result of jealousy and money but also of technology which today, more than ever, forms an integral part of our daily lives. Jealousy, for instance, not only ruins the relationship between Christopher and Elsie but it also damages that between Thomas and George. This leaves George with no other choice but to emigrate as he increasingly finds himself isolated, betrayed and abandoned by everybody. Given time, jealousy changes to hate between siblings and to lies and quarrels between parents.
At this stage I imagine the author asking the reader to reflect on the following issue: if such things are occurring in this tiny corner of the island, then what is happening in the remaining more "progressive" parts of Malta?
There is no need of a detailed sociological analysis for a person to realize that the concept of "time" in Malta, aptly described by Mario Vassallo in his work From Lordship to Stewardship, has changed thoroughly. Gone are the times when in this country, time seemed to remain at a standstill, when news travelled by word of mouth, when Rediffusion was the main source of information and when people used to stop working to take their daily siesta. Today, on the contrary, the media ensures that everybody remains awake and active throughout the whole day. But if the older generation perhaps complains of such social changes, although they too are being drawn to accepting them, the younger generation acknowledges these changes as a challenge which they need to overcome in order to continue functioning.
For this reason, Massa focuses on Malta's major institution to investigate the social changes that are taking place. To this end, the families which the author presents to the reader, are surrounded by events which unfortunately today have become common news on the media. Indeed, missing persons, deaths due to overdose of drugs, abortion and, "human trafficking... and children suffering from poverty in third world countries" (p. 217) have become the order of the day.
This novel is therefore a micro study of social change in Malta, in particular in the south of Malta, a small but not insignificant island within the Mediterranean and international contexts.
The characters in this novel have their own personal identity and they interact according to their beliefs and situations to produce a cohesive picture of Malta at the dawn of the 21st century. Some of these characters love the family, while others are more egoistic and concerned with the immediate present rather than with values and the future.
In the characters of George and Thomas, the reader can appreciate the parable of the prodigal son. Thomas, the obedient son, the one who is always faithful to his father even in his work and George, an immature person, always ready to get the most out of life. Martin, on the other hand, is a patient father who listens to his sons and tries to accommodate their wishes. One can say, however, that Martin has a particular pecuniary interest in Thomas since the latter represents a source of continuity to the family's business. Ultimately, social class is important to Martin.
The business of animal fodder consolidates the narrative of this story and has a particular meaning. Today most families keep pets because they seem to have lost their trust in human beings. Animals appear to be more obedient, sensitive and appreciative - unlike persons. The business shows that this kind of work in today's hectic life, where egoism reigns supreme, has indeed a brilliant and lucrative future! In the UK, for instance, the pet population in 2017 stands at 54 million. The most popular pet being the dog with 24% of people owning one (Source: Estimated Pet Population in the UK from 2009-2017) while in Malta, the approximate number of dog owners in 2015 was 42,000 (Malta Kennel Club).
In this novel, religion and superstition are woven together with the concept of the family. In this case the devotion of the Maltese people towards Our Lady becomes evident. Not only is Malta overflowing with effigies, processions and churches dedicated to Our Lady, but most Maltese include in their bucket list a visit to a miraculous shrine of Our Lady abroad such as Lourdes, Medjugorje and Fatima, to mention a few. This is the case with Jenny and Michael, a childless couple, and Veronica, a young woman who wishes to get married. This shows that, notwithstanding all difficulties and threats, religion remains important to Maltese society. It seems that their own weaknesses continue to kindle faith in the Maltese even though today many practise a supermarket style of religion.
Veronika, however, finds herself in a dilemma, for although she wishes to get married, she also takes care of her parents. Essentially she is a traditional type of woman caught in times of change. Before she gets engaged to Andrew, she enquires about the man and beseeches her brother to intervene for her with her parents in order to help her remedy the situation.
Undoubtedly, one can feel the nostalgia of the past. This longing to return to the past is being progressively eroded from the traditional model of the Maltese family. It is being done particularly with the use of technology where Malta too has opened up to the rest of the world. Technology, which notwithstanding its many positive aspects, also brings in its wake negative consequences. For instance, it tends to disrupt relationships while establishing new ones in the process.
The novel shows that the new generation is offering a serious challenge to the traditional nuclear family as it is increasing the difficulties for parents to control their children. This leads the author to analyse those elements that constitute the dynamics of change in Maltese society.
Salvu and his wife Anna represent a model of social cohesion although these appear to have already passed through the process of social transformation given that their only son had immigrated to the UK. This Maltese couple reflects the typical Maltese collegiality, where people cooperate to satisfy the wants and needs of each other. However, here too, tragedy strikes as if not only the reality of life is conspiring against the unity of the family but also destiny. It seems that everything is turning against this institution which, like Bastjan, is destined to wear out and cease to exist.
The novel also offers a detective style of writing involving the deaths of Chris and Salvu, leaving the reader more or less thinking whether it was homicide or suicide. Salvu's story, who eventually is found dead near Delimara point, seems to suggest that sometimes it serves to be a coward rather than be sorry later on. The model of the Maltese family, simply cannot take unnecessary risks.
As one can appreciate from novels written by other writers, this author too uses the technique of the weather to describe the tempo of his work. The weather here is used in a prophetic manner to suggest the form of things to come or to describe past events. It is the harbinger of difficult times.
The character of the "woman" in this novel also passes through change. The woman, who in Maltese society is considered as the main support and guardian to the values of the family, has started moving away from her traditional role. Elsie and Veronika are examples of such important changes which are taking place. They show that the social balance is shifting away from the norm.
The novel is a bit pessimistic in tone. This is because, ultimately, the author is sorry to see before his very own eyes the dismantling of this once important social institution. Frankly, the author, like everybody else, feels helpless against the continuous destruction of the family.
Massa, in the events of these families, lists the challenges which the family today is going through ‒ these range from drug problems to the fact that today we have to accept that not everybody has the same sexual orientation. The word "taboo" today seems to be excluded from the social dictionary of the modern world.
The novel by Alfred Massa is a work which should make us seriously think about the reality that is surrounding us and offers a good foundation for discussion on those factors which are mostly making an impact on the Maltese family today. In the struggle between values and progress, which one of the two is going to win? Shall we still be in a position to defend the "family"?
The novel is written with mastery and intelligently, qualities that reflect not only the literary experience of the author but also of life itself. The characters are skillfully weaved together who, while attached to the nostalgic past, find themselves conditioned by present events and threatened by future ones.
The novel itself, however, is a sigh or better still a prayer by the author to Our Lady. He writes, "During the homily Dun Remiġ insisted on the importance of the sacrament of marriage; marriage as created by God, nor as rendered by man; marriage as nature itself would like it to be, not like those who embrace modern libertinage that destroys every value of this cherished institution" (p.184).
Notwithstanding all the difficulties these families experience, the end is a positive one because the author believes that "sometimes no matter what happens the fiercer the storm, the fairer the weather in the aftermath" (p. 207). In this way life continues presenting us with difficulties and challenges, with Providence protecting us and saving us from every danger.
There are several other themes which Massa could have discussed in this novel among them, for instance, separation between married couples but he prefers to focus on the holistic family. Careful reading of this novel should demonstrate that we ought to be attentive about the things that are happening around us even if we are hopeful of a better future.