Multicultural Literature in Cotemporary Italy is a collection of literary works by immigrants. This assortment of stories, poems, and other writings gives the reader a glimpse into the lives of those less heard in Italian society. The voices that were once silenced can now be heard through Marie Orton and Graziella Parati’s book. In the introduction, they introduce the idea that we are constantly migrating and transforming. In a quote by Caldas Brito, he states “Everyday we need to learn a new language. We are in constant migration”(11). This idea that we are constantly changing and migrating is something that I agree with. Change is something that is constantly happening. I believe that we can either accept the change or be stuck in what we only choose to see and want. In reference to immigrants, everyday brings new change, whether it’s leaving their homelands or learning a new language and culture, the world is continuously changing for them.
Another aspect that Orton and Parati discussed was the use of humor. In many of the works they noticed the similarities in the use of laughter. Mikail Bahktin was an author who pointed out laughter and its use, “Laughter could never become an instrument to oppress and blind the people. It always remained a free weapon in their hands” (15). The use of humor and laughter covers up the hardships many immigrants face. It uses laughter in sarcastic situation. When things become uncomfortable to discuss, laughter can make light of the situation. Using humor to disguise the circumstances of immigration also acts as a way to alert people to the issues. Also public discussion and dialogue present a way for people to understand immigration. Through the collection of these literary works, Orton and Parati have unveiled the issues of immigration and given a voice to those who weren’t heard.
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