The beginning of the journey: the "green" Renzo
7 Nov 1628 to 13 Nov 1628
- Renzo and Lucia are to be married on 8th November. Don Abbondio, the priest, while heading back home, meets the Bravi who warn him not to perform the marriage: the local baron Don Rodrigo has forbidden it, he wants Lucia for himself. The wedding’s off.
- Renzo finds out about Don Rodrigo and we can see how impulsive he is. He repeatedly plans to kill Don Rodrigo and surrenders only when Lucia is almost begging him to. Together with other characters (Fra Cristoforo, Menico, Tonio and Gervaso), they even plan a “surprise marriage”, that doesn’t end as planned.
- Fra Cristoforo reveals that Don Rodrigo intends to kidnap Lucia and suggests they go to Monza. Renzo has to depart from them and go to Milan, where he finally begins his real journey.
- Once in the city, his personality betrays him several times: first, he witnesses the assault on the “Forno delle Grucce” where the police identify him as one of the bosses because of a speech he gives.
A policeman in disguise goes with him to the Inn of Luna Piena (Full Moon), Renzo gets drunk and reveals his name. The following day he gets arrested but manages to flee.
Renzo gets to Gorgonzola and the Adda river and then moves to Bergamo thanks to his cousin Bortolo who offers him a job under a fake name.