Chapters 10 - 11 Summary and Analysis

Chapter 10

Carlo continues to practice medicine and gets to know many peasants this way. The practice makes him anxious, however, as he has no books or tools to help him. Carlo has a brief visit from his sister. She is brought to him in a car, the property of an "American" mechanic in town. The car was available for public use for a small fee.

Carlo's sister is a shock to the townspeople, as she is a woman from the city. Home seems foreign to Carlo now. His sister gives him news, and they speak of many things. But his sister's life seems foreign to him. The peasants look on people from the north almost as "foreign gods." Carlo's sister was shocked by the poverty of Matera and more shocked by Gagliano. She tells him the story of her...