ITALIAN AMERICAN LITERATURE AND FOOD: A MATCH MADE IN THE KITCHEN A HANDBOOK by MONICA MARCHI DISSERTATION Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at The University of Texas at Arlington December 2018 Arlington, Texas Supervising Committee: Tim Morris, Supervising Professor Erin Murrah-Mandril Amy Tigner I ABSTRACT Italian American Literature and Food: A Match Made in Heaven A Handbook Monica Marchi, PhD The University of Texas at Arlington, 2018 Supervising Professor: Tim Morris Food is a recurrent theme in Italian American literature and authors have used it to highlight the importance of family, women, and the community at large and to teach about Italian customs to the U.S. public. Oftentimes, for the older Italian immigrants, food triggers fond memories of the Old country, while, for the younger generations, it might cause shame that leads to clashes with the older generations. Characters use food as a tool to express power and, later, status and to communicate. Food also defines relationships, gives an identity to the Italian immigrants on foreign soil, and allows them to resist acculturation and assimilation. Oddly, not much has been written on food in Italian American literature and this dissertation is meant to fill this void in the study of ethnic literatures. The entries offer a plethora of major themes found in many Italian American texts, such as the kitchen, women, husbands, and nostalgia. The manuscript also allows for a recovery of some texts that have now fallen into oblivion and are very hard to find. I Copyright by Monica Marchi 2018 II ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to thank Dr. Tim Morris, Dr. Erin Murrah-Mandril, and Dr. Amy Tigner for their support, help, and patience as they guided me through the writing process. I also want to thank all my UTA professors that have taught me to look at literature with new eyes and a different mindset. III DEDICATION I would like to dedicate this work to my Italian and American families, the Marchis, the Anismans, and the Jacksons. Without their help, support, love, and encouragement, this chapter in my life would not have been possible. Additionally, I would like to thank my husband, Kay Harold Jackson Jr. for pushing me to begin this journey and for being patient and understanding throughout the whole process. Lastly, I would like to recognize all the immigrants that have made and continue to make this country great. IV Table of Contents Abstract ............................................................................................................................................ I Acknowledgements ....................................................................................................................... III Dedication ..................................................................................................................................... IV Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 1 Abundance .................................................................................................................................... 32 Abuse in the Kitchen ..................................................................................................................... 33 Acculturation................................................................................................................................. 36 Acquiring a Taste .......................................................................................................................... 37 Addiction....................................................................................................................................... 38 Agency .......................................................................................................................................... 39 Approval ....................................................................................................................................... 40 Assimilation .................................................................................................................................. 40 Autobiography .............................................................................................................................. 42 Backyards ...................................................................................................................................... 42 Bakery ........................................................................................................................................... 45 Banquets ........................................................................................................................................ 46 Barthes, Ronald ............................................................................................................................. 51 Biasin, Gian-Carlo ........................................................................................................................ 53 Bildungsroman .............................................................................................................................. 56 Bread ............................................................................................................................................. 59 Bribery, Food as ............................................................................................................................ 63 The Brotherhood of the Grapes by John Fante (1975) ................................................................. 66 Bruculinu, America by Vincent Schiavelli (1988) ...................................................................... 67 Cannoli .......................................................................................................................................... 68 Catholicism ................................................................................................................................... 69 Characters’ Features...................................................................................................................... 73 Chitarra ......................................................................................................................................... 74 Christ in Concrete by Pietro di Donato (1939) ............................................................................ 76 Coexisting ..................................................................................................................................... 76 Coffee ............................................................................................................................................ 77 Come Back to Sorrento by Joseph Petracca (1948) ..................................................................... 81 Connection, Food as...................................................................................................................... 81 V Contractual Marriage .................................................................................................................... 82 Cooking as Panacea ...................................................................................................................... 82 Cooking “Classes” ........................................................................................................................ 83 “Il Cortile”.................................................................................................................................... 85 Crazy in the Kitchen: Food, Feuds, Forgiveness in an Italian American Family by Louise DeSalvo (2004) ............................................................................................................................. 85 Courtship ....................................................................................................................................... 86 Culturalism .................................................................................................................................... 87 Culture, Food as ............................................................................................................................ 88 Dago Red ...................................................................................................................................... 91 Dandelions .................................................................................................................................... 92 Domesticity ................................................................................................................................... 94 Economic Status............................................................................................................................ 95 Emotions, Food and ...................................................................................................................... 96 The End by Salvatore Scibona (2008).......................................................................................... 98 Enterprise Spirit ............................................................................................................................ 99 Edible Heritage and Culture........................................................................................................ 103 Emasculation at the Table ..........................................................................................................