More than Marias and Toninos: Pietro di Donato Takes Italian Americans beyond a Single Story
Keywords:
Italian American, job, labor, objectify, Pietro di Donato, StereotypesAbstract
This essay examines specifics in the literary works of Italian American author, Pietro di Donato, that demonstrate how the author highlights complexities of Italian American identity. Focusing on scenes from a variety of di Donato’s works - not just the ever-popular Christ in Concrete - this essay shows common objects from every-day life playing a role in revealing some profound characteristics associated with one America’s most misunderstood immigrant groups. Moving through a timeline of novels, articles, and short stories produced during di Donato’s fifty-plus years of writing, this essay brings attention to scenes and characters unacknowledged in previous research. The scenes from di Donato’s writing focused on throughout this essay feature objects and tools that have a role in character development, thus expanding the understanding of Italian American Identity. Most notably, this essay departs from typical indicators of Italian American identity like food or religion and includes references to di Donato’s last novel which remains unpublished; The American Gospels.References
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