The Shadow and the Young Girl

Agata, Rémy, and Mathieu, three young residents of the island of Corsica, shared personal stories that had common themes: the fear of the unknown and the challenge of self-surpassing, the role of humor, the omnipresence of wild nature, and the relationship with death. Of these three stories, Agata's was chosen to be made into a human book presented in the form of a tale.

The presence of the maquis and wild boar is pervasive throughout Corsica, stimulating a strong imagination conducive to writing an initiatory tale that embodies the opportunity to grow by venturing into the unknown.

In Corsica, the oral tradition gave rise to the creation of tales in different regions of the island, influenced by the surrounding nature. Thus, the tale is an integral part of Corsican intangible heritage.

The story was brought to life theatrically through the presence of a narrator, the choice of costumes, and a dark atmosphere reflecting the night and the unknown. This was enhanced by the effects of lighting and the sound of a drum, which punctuated the tension of the scene like a beating heart facing a challenge.

Symbolically, transmission in this story is represented by the passing of the pinatu (machete), signifying the transfer of responsibility. This act marks the young girl forever, embodying a mother's trust in her daughter to repel danger.

We see how the young girl, through this ordeal, breaks free from a cycle of fears by realizing that the unknown is different from her beliefs. Like her ancestors before her, she will come to understand the nature of fear and thus cross the threshold from childhood to maturity.