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• BLOG  ---

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ASSIGNMENT     extra April 25

BRANDON

Job is utilized as a false god that requires blood from its victims. Immigrants such as Paul believes that these jobs will grant them deliverance for their family and themselves; but their finances are too high, and the salary is too low.  The reason why this false god is named Job is because of the biblical book of Job. This book in particular is one of the more darker books of the scriptures. It deals with the diligence and uprightness of Job to his creator. He is still subjected to the punishment of Satan. As diligent and upright Paul may seem, he is still punished as well by putting his trust in the power of his “job”. The author is showcasing that Paul cannot be putting his trust in jobs, any more than these religious institutions. Donato even does an amazing job highlighting the offensive components of the workplace; painting Job as a beast that is extremely draining. Paul putting his trust in his “job” isn`t the right thing to do.

 

LAIBA

Di Donato uses "Job" as a biblical reference to reflect the darkness of the world. "Job," for instance, depicts the role of bricklayers in this novel. It is a breathing entity that terrorizes the employees' every waking moment with backbreaking labor, poor wages, and harsh working conditions. Although Paul is brilliant and capable of succeeding in education, he is coerced into "Job" as his family faces poverty. Therefore, although "Job" is a physical entity that may reduce the fear of hunger, it takes more than it provides, as it took Paul's father's life or his uncle Luigi's leg. "Job" is an inhuman force that requires you to make an enormous sacrifice to bring you little fulfillment. Paul worked for a week at "Job," but he got $5 only. Every part of his body hurts, and he only gets $5 for it. Thus, "Job" exists but so does the state of its evilness.

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PEMA

Di Donato made us feel slightly self-righteous since we plainly assume the grocer, the butcher and Father John are bad people. We expect the the grocer to just hand him food although not knowing the grocer’s family situation. The grocer could have been stuggling to meet ends’ meets. However, we only judge him based on his action that is shown.

ALVIN

In the beginning of chapter 6 Annunziata is checking the cupboard to see what is left to eat but there’s only evaporated milk onions and a couple potatoes to feed eight kids three times a day for the rest of the week and that’s all they have because they have no more money.

BRANDON

Attacking Catholicism due to their lack of assistance and rejection during his time of need. These sequences are what made me sympathize with him completely. It gave me the opportunity to feel self-righteous and understand Paul’s frustration towards religious institutions; and lean more toward a capitalistic approach. If religious establishments are failing DiDonato, he can only be confident in his own morality, as I put myself in his shoes, I understand his anger toward Catholicism.      

OMAR

Not one stranger in this novel, seems purely empathic but only helps Paul out of “doing what is right”. A true sense of empathy is helping those in need, simply because one shares each other’s suffering. For example, Dame Katarina and Luigi (although not entirely estranged), help Paul’s family out of love and mutual feelings. Moreover, this “in-and-out” stream of consciousness, truly captures the emotions and thoughts one has when interacting with Paul. Whether it is Paul’s thoughts he imposes on the other person or not (such as the interaction with the grocer), it shows the reader what the stranger truly thinks. It also shows the reader, what Paul wants to really say; however, these thoughts are kept to himself. Moreover, his thoughts are an extension of his desperation, his conversations only tell the reader little, but the thoughts he keeps in his head speak louder than what he says. An example of his desperation is the prayer he does before Christ in the church, and the repetition of “O Lord”, the word “pleasepleaseplease” combined into one word etc. Ultimately, I do believe that Di Donato captures this sequence in an effective way. 

LAIBA

Di Donato, using the sequence of incidents was very much effective because it also made me feel guilty. Sometimes when I see homeless people on the street, I pass by them without giving them anything and without thinking about how they survive their day.

98. Became a spectator

100. Jews children of Christ.

103. Compensation Bureau, no English spoken

104. The cripple, straight narrative. 

105: English accent. Dirt. THE CRIPPLE

[A surprising chapter, and one of my favorites: everything is set up to make the reader expect the rudest, most disrespectful and coarsest treatment  by this self-proclaimed sensitive.

The description of filth, the smell of sewage, the food and low-class language all converge to create a repulsive scene.

And yet, the Cripple, surprisingly, turns things upside down: she reveals herself to be very intuitive and even caring toward Annunziata and Paul. 

(Personal hypothesis: to me it feels as if the character "wrote itself," in that Di Donato initially set up the character to be a disgusting individual, a vulture out to take advantage of the miseries of others; but that at a certain point the character took a life of her own, grabbed the pen from the writer's hand and wrote herself into the book.

If you have ever written fiction, or poetry, or if you have ever engaged in any kind of creative artistic activity, from making sand castles to knitting or scrawling on walls, you know this does happen.)

108-109: trance, interruption

110. They forgot themselves... / He had to go and god needed him... no pain

111. If a child dies it's because Geremio needs company

112. Cup of tea for Annunziata.

117. Louis

118. Spoke in Hebrew (Yiddish)

119. He hated cruel people, war etc.

123. Compensation bureau, straight narrative POOR PEOPLE

124. The system.

125. Eyetalian names confusing, problems with Eyetalian workers

126. Careless like children.

127. Case adjourned

128. What world and country are we in?  [Bewilderment]

Page by page ANALYSIS  Christ in Concrete

IMMIGRANT STAGES OF INTEGRATION AND ASSIMILATION:

• VAGRANT, DRIFTER, DISPOSABLE
• NUCLEAR FAMILY, ECONOMIC MARGINALITY
• SETTLEMENT, COMMUNITY, ECONOMIC ECOSYSTEM
   
• THE LIMITS OF INTEGRATION - POWER IS NOT SUCCESS

NOTES FROM BOOK

WORKSHEET