The Piccinino, Volume 2 (of 2); The last of Aldinis

"The Piccinino, Volume 2; The Last of Aldinis" by George Sand is a mid-19th century story that uses interactions between Michel and the Brigand Piccinino to ask questions about what makes a person worthy, especially when considering their place in society. The book shows conversations about what is more important: the family you are born into or what you do yourself. As the book starts, Michel is in a middle of a serious conversation about what it means to be noble. Also, the book shows Piccinino planning to meet with Mila, who is seen as brave and pure. Sand uses these early parts of the story to build up to a deeper look at whether things you can own are more important than who you really are, while also setting up the feelings and reasons behind what the characters do.