What are the motifs in Christ Stopped at Eboli by Carlo Levi?

Meaningless social strife is a recurring idea. Carlo thinks the "problem of the South," represented by Gagliano, is actually three problems. First, there is the problem that Italy contains two civilizations, as noted in the first theme. Second, there is the problem of economic and spiritual poverty, as noted in the second. But the third problem, to Carlo, is that of social strife and petty tyranny. He notes that many believe that the social problems of the South are caused by large landowners. But Carlo rejects this explanation. The real problem are the petty tyrants of the middle class. Because of oppression, emigration, and war, the remaining middle class are women with children without husbands and men without the skills or wits to escape.