Christ in Concrete by Pietro Di Donato
"Christ in Concrete" by Pietro Di Donato is a poignant narrative that explores the struggles and aspirations of Italian American construction workers, focusing on the tragic life and death of Geremio, an immigrant foreman. The story, which began as a short tale before evolving into a full novel in 1939, is semi-autobiographical, drawing from Di Donato's own experiences following his father's death in a construction accident. Set against the backdrop of early 20th-century America, it highlights the harsh realities faced by immigrant laborers, who endure dangerous working conditions and exploitation while holding onto dreams of a better future for their families.
The narrative presents Geremio's last two days of life, emphasizing themes of family loyalty, faith, and the grim economic realities that force these men into hazardous jobs. The characters are depicted with depth, showcasing their camaraderie and humorous exchanges even amidst the looming danger of their work environment. Central to the story is a critique of the systemic oppression faced by these workers, personified in the antagonistic figure of Murdin, the insensitive company boss. The climax culminates in a tragic construction site collapse during Good Friday, interweaving religious symbolism as Geremio meets a horrifying fate reminiscent of crucifixion. This powerful tale is often regarded as a significant work in social protest literature, revealing the human cost of industrial progress.
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Christ in Concrete by Pietro Di Donato
First published: 1937
Type of plot: Social realism
Time of work: The 1920's
Locale: New York City
Principal Characters:
Geremio , the leader of the construction crewAnnunziata , his wifeMurdin , the construction boss who represents the company that exploits the workers and ultimately causes their deathsNine Italian American immigrant workers
The Story
First published as a short story, "Christ in Concrete" was the basis for the first two chapters of the novel by the same name published in 1939. The story is autobiographical, based on the death of the author's father in a construction accident in 1923. Paul, the oldest son of Geremio and Annunziata who is mentioned only briefly in the short story, becomes the protagonist in the novel. Paul represents Di Donato himself, who at the age of twelve, as the oldest son, was forced to go to work as a bricklayer to support the family after his father died.
The story covers the final two days in Geremio's life. The plot centers on the thoughts and actions of the Italian American construction workers in a realistic account of the hardships and dangers of their lives. Their dialogue, internal monologues, and the narrator-author's exposition show love of family as the driving force in the lives of these immigrant Italian peasants. They came to the United States early in the twentieth century to escape poverty and forced military service in the old country. Sustained by their strong Catholic faith, they are underpaid and exhausted but filled with hope for a future that will spare their children the hardships of their own lives.
The men exchange jokes about their wives, often coarse in their direct references to sex, but always with a rough affection and warmth. These workers are illiterate and hardworking, their lives centering on their families, the comforts of food and sex, and their religious faith. Physically strong but intellectually limited, they know that they are being exploited but cannot imagine any other kind of life. In the old country, they were accustomed to being dominated by church and government authorities, a traditional attitude that they have brought with them to the United States. They have a firm faith that God will protect them and their families.
Geremio, their spokesperson and crew leader, has earned their respect; they follow his orders willingly. The Job (sometimes referred to in the text with a capital "J"), is an antagonist in the narrative, the force against which the workers struggle. Murdin, the company boss (the name suggests his role as a murderer) is hard-driving and insensitive, treating the workers as little more than beasts who can be easily replaced. Nick the Lean stands apart from the other workers in his bitterness and lack of faith, representing a realistic view of these men's lives in the United States, in contrast to the naïve hopes of the others. Geremio fears the danger that looms on this job but knows he must follow Murdin's orders. Lacking job security, these men know that only their daily labor prevents them and their families from starving to death.
Geremio's wife is expecting another child, who both parents hope will be another boy to carry on the family name. Geremio has just bought a house, the achievement of his dream of success in the United States. The revelation that this dream will become a nightmare is foreshadowed throughout the text. The conversation among the men and their exchanges with Murdin show that the underpinnings of the building are based on old, unstable material, the shoddy construction caused by the company's cost-cutting efforts. There is an ominous undertone of doom in their own words and in the narrator's description of their thoughts. Geremio's wife Annunziata, in their bedtime conversation, worries because her husband, who always discusses with her the day's work, is silent about this job. The liturgical season is highly significant: Devout Catholics, they have been given two hours off work to mark Good Friday, the day of Christ's death.
The building collapses, and the death of each worker is described in ghastly detail. Geremio, the last to die, is impaled on a steel rod (literally, a crucifixion) and splinters his jawbone in a futile attempt to bite through a wooden beam to find breathing space. Still conscious, he calls on Jesus to save him but is smothered in a mass of drying concrete. The prolonged account of his death is horrifying in its detail. Critics cite this story as one of the most powerful in the social protest literature of its time.