Abstracts

Starting from a close analysis of Christ in Concrete by Italian American author Pietro di Donato, my thesis focuses primarily on di Donatos perspective on the main character of his story, Geremio and on Edward Dmytrys interpretation of the latter in his 1949 filmic adaptation of the novel. My aim is to demonstrate how di Donatos personal involvement in the story makes the character of Geremio an Italian American literary icon, while Dmytryks interest with the political meaning of the story transforms the main character into a working class hero. After an analysis mainly focused on a male character, author and director, the last part of my thesis will instead be devoted to two Italian American literary figures, Pietro di Donatos Annunziata and Helen Barolinis Umbertina, in order to examine the Italian American experience through the female lens.