“Quiz at the Prison” is a short story by Dino Buzzati that can be found in the collection Restless Nights: Selected Stories. It’s about a prison that offers a unique opportunity to its population. There are conditions on it and the odds are against the prisoners, but they all get a chance. Here’s a summary of “Quiz at the Prison”.
“Quiz at the Prison” Summary
A large prison where the inmates serve life sentences has an unusual policy. Every convict gets a turn speaking to the public for half an hour. They’re taken to the balcony of the administrative building. A crowd made up of people from all stations and walks of life gathers to listen in the piazza. If the crowd applauds at the end, the prisoner is released.
There are two conditions placed on this opportunity. First, each prisoner gets only one chance to address the populace in their lifetime. Second, they don’t know when their time to speak will come and they get little notice. They could be brought out an hour after being admitted to the prison, or when they’re old and decrepit, or any time in between. It’s up to the warden when they go.
There’s no camaraderie among the inmates. Those who speak to the crowd and fail don’t reveal what they said to their fellow prisoners. Those who haven’t gone yet don’t reveal their strategy, as it could be used first by someone else, lessening the effect when it’s their turn.
Rumors that reach the inmates indicate that those who speak tend to use two main tactics. They emphasize their innocence and their desire to lead normal lives from now on. How they present these things to the crowd is unknown.
The crowd that gathers in the square treat the event as amusement rather than the serious judgment that it is. They aren’t respectful of the wretch in striped clothing with the cropped hair standing before them. They boo and laugh when he appears. It’s very hard for the prisoner to maintain his composure.
During the narrator’s nine year imprisonment, no one has secured their release, although about one person per month gets the call. They have all been savagely booed. But there are legendary rumors of rare prisoners who have won over the crowd.
It’s two in the afternoon and the narrator is notified he will address the crowd in two hours. He’s been thinking about what to say for nine years and knows it word for word.
He’s led to the balcony and sent out alone. The crowd of at least three thousand hiss and mock him when he appears. A beautiful girl near the balcony taunts him with her body. He stays focused on the plan and doesn’t try to silence the crowd. Amazed at his composure, the crowd gradually settles down and goes silent. Someone prompts him to speak. He addresses the crowd.
He’s only here because it’s his turn. He’s not innocent and doesn’t want to leave the prison. He’s happy, happier than all of them. There’s a secret passageway from his cell to a beautiful villa where he’s welcome and even loved by a woman. The crowd doesn’t want to hear it and accuses him of lying. They can’t stand the thought of him being happy.
The narrator begs the crowd to leave him in prison. He begs for their boos. He feels the hate from the crowd but they’re hesitant to give him what he wants in case he’s lying. His voice quavers pathetically as he implores the mob for their boos, calling on their good-heartedness and kindness to leave him alone.
The crowd doesn’t want to do him any favors. One person starts clapping and it gradually spreads to everyone until it’s an immense thunderous roar.
The narrator has deceived the swine. The doors behind him open and he’s told he can go.
I hope this summary of “Quiz at the Prison” by Dino Buzzati was helpful.