@Conflict Said
Well, luring her husband intro a trap and killing him would certainly go a long way in convincing society to believe she'd be reformed into a saint before passing away in prison. I say this because in Italy, and I would imagine Sicily too, unless I am mistaken, in which case please tell me, murder almost always leads to a life sentence. I'm sure this woman would have reaped immeasurable benefits from living in a jail cell until the end of her days.
Very good points. Therefore, she made the right choice. Better die with dignity than to slowly putrefy in prison. I know I'd try to commit suicide in prison under those conditions too and do my best not to fail.
She looked backwards once or twice while speaking to Montalbano and the peaceful way she stood before she pushed off the balls of her feet almost definitely indicates she wanted to commit suicide all along, in my eyes. Perhaps if Montalbano had been closer, she might have tried to throw him off instead, but his colleagues were nearby, so, more likely, she'd have tried to kill him and herself at the same time, if that were at all possible.
She fell backwards because it was the surest way that Montalbano wouldn't be able to break her fall. Had she turned and then stepped off, he might have had time to leap and grab her, thus preventing her attempt. Facing him, and knowing how far he was from her was crucial to making sure that she was successful.
well, after you leave so much information out of scenario, as told me above.
at that moment, I think she decide to commit suicide. even, it look like she was thinking it. doesn't mean, that her intent to kill herself on the ledge.
montalbano, why would he try to grab her, if he trying to kill her?
yes, by the way of pushing off with the balls of her feet. there is a small glimpse maybe a strong possible that she wasn't try to commit suicide after all, but revenge.
this scenario, you can see in any movie or TV's scene.
if she just fell backward, she would too close the ledge to grabbed on to.
since, she push herself with the balls of her feet. that is momentum that mean pushing away from the ledge.
she push herself away from the ledge. with the momentum, would naturally fall backward and drop. but her body lean forward toward the ledge. it would naturally, she would reach for the ledge.
so, she with one hand held the ledge barely and dangling in the air. naturally, montalbano would try to step on her fingers to get her let go, and fall to her death.
when he stepping on her fingers ( this scene, when she had only two fingers on the ledge. ) during she is getting with her last strength, and grab montalbano's pant's leg. then she pushing off balance, and he fall off the ledge to his death.
whether, she fall with him or she still holding on. that's another matter.