Americanization of Italians

Paper Summary:

This paper examines the Americanization of Italian immigrants, as seen in
the novels "All the Nations Under Heaven" by Kenneth Jackson and "The Fortunate Pilgrim" by Mario Puzo and the films "Goodfellas" and "Raging Bull", directed by Martin Scorsese. By analyzing these works, the paper attempts to demonstrate that the immigration of Italians to America caused a dramatic shift in their sense of family values and relationships. The paper explains that the Italian family was once the basis of the collective society within traditional Italian culture, but in America the family dissolved into its respective parts -- i.e. the individuals. The paper goes on to show how these individuals interacted with American ideals and morals to establish a new way of life for their progeny, the American-born Italians.

From the Paper:

"Traditional Italian households centered on the family rather than the individual pieces of the family. This type of collective culturalization tended to express gratifying feelings toward the family rather than personal feelings. However, as the immigration process initiated, the family bond began to weaken in Italian culture as the male patriarchs transcended the seas, leaving behind their cherished families. "Unlike Jews, who came largely as families, and the Irish immigration, in which women were in the majority for many years, Italian newcomers were at first mostly young men who often emigrated with the intention of making enough money in America with which to return home and purchase land."(ANUH , 135-136) With the money they received from work, the Italian men would then bring their kin over The Italian males received the first taste of independence that has lingered throughout their lives and led to the dissolving family values system."

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