Symbolism Of Religion In Nuovomondo

Register to read the introduction… Religion is integrated into the film as a symbol for faith, freedom, and promise.

In the opening scenes Salvatore and one his sons climb a rough, rocky mountain with stones in their mouths as a sacrifice to god once they get to the top. Praying for divine inspiration, they are shown photos of this “new world” where money grows on trees and chickens are larger than men. Finding this signal to go, Salvatore packs up all his belongings and his family for their voyage to this new and mysterious land. Religion is interpreted ubiquitously through various signs which the peasants like Salvatore believe in because they have very little to fall back upon in such poor economic conditions. Golden Door reflects early twentieth century rural Sicily, where poverty, ignorance and superstition blended with the age-old rituals in the Mediterranean. Ancestral deity of peasant religiosity are perpetuated through the efforts of Salvatore. His son also stumbles upon a postcard that Salvatore uses as a sign to voyage.

2) The role of dream and the surreal images that Salvatore sees. The “dream” theme so to speak is the basis for the film. …show more content…
In these scenes there are giant carrots that are used as flotation devices. At another point in the picture there is a family carrying giant olives and carrots. At the end, there is another scene of all the characters from the film swimming together in a sea of milk. The idea that these small vegatable and milk are abstractly conceptualized on such a large physical scale represents the search and desire by immigrants for a better more fruitful life. A life where they will never have to wonder whether their crops will grow, because there will be an abundance of essentials that will hypothetically improve their quality of