Emotional
Intelligence and Concept of God in the novel BETWEEN THE CRACKS
By Carmela
Cattuti, author of BETWEEN THE CRACKS
When
the 1908 Mt. Etna eruption devastated Messina, Sicily, thousands immigrated
fully expecting to return, rebuild their homes, and resume their lives. Franco,
one of the characters in BETWEEN THE CRACKS, has no intention of returning to
live in Sicily. He is ensconced in America and what his new country has to
offer an ambitious young man. Franco strives to do the best he can with what he
has. When he marries, he owns several
houses and has money in the bank. His job is secure and he values the work he
performs; he thinks things through. As
soon as he could afford it, he moves his family to a town along the Hudson
River.
Many
took the journey across the Atlantic arriving at Ellis Island exhausted and
anxious. They had hopes and dreams, but no practical plans on how to achieve
their intentions. Franco arrived in the U.S. at age twelve with little
education. Like many immigrants he was scorned at first, but through his innate
intelligence and fortitude he became successful in the new world. He had a
developed emotional intelligence that he could access in his personal and business
dealings. Angela, the main character in the novel, integrates emotional
intelligence with a spirituality that transcends organized religion. Early 20th
century European Catholicism imprisoned the immigrant in roles that were no
longer beneficial or functional in the new world. Most of these concepts were
viewed as antiquated by American standards.
Angela
and Frank were forward thinking in terms of religion and the idea of a deity.
Franco’s life experience forced him to confront the church and the concept of
God and he declares that God does not exist for him. Angela experiences unseen
energies that to her are benevolent and support her through difficult times. She
also believes fervently in the healing attributes of the Virgin Mary and lights
candles in her honor. The God of religion seldom plays a part in her worship,
nor does Jesus Christ. Today’s modern new age religion would call that “Goddess
Worship.” Through their releasing of traditional religious beliefs they were
able to confront adversity with strength, not through victimhood. When she and
Franco encounter illness Angela never prays to God, she calls upon her “unseen
friends” and Mary for assistance. Franco never prays for a job, he looks for
one through his connections.
Immigrants
like Franco and Angela were part of the development of independent thinking in
the new world. Many religions today would consider them heretics and they would
not be welcome in many homes. They had the fortitude to allow their views to mature
even if it meant traversing unknown territory or thinking differently than the
immigrant community. Their views were cultivated through embracing life’s
challenges and joyful experiences not through distancing themselves from life.
In the novel, we can see that the next generation lacks the fortitude and
vision to continue to create the reality Franco and Angela conceived.
