Christ Stopped at Eboli

Synopsis

'We're not Christians, Christ stopped short of here, at Eboli.' Exiled to a remote and barren corner of Italy for his opposition to Mussolini, Carlo Levi entered a world cut off from history and the state, hedged in by custom and sorrow, without comfort or solace, where, eternally patient, the peasants lived in an age-old stillness and in the presence of death - for Christ did stop at Eboli.

Summary

Chapter 1: The Arrival

Carlo Levi arrives in Gagliano, a remote village in southern Italy, where he has been exiled for his anti-Fascist activities. He is struck by the stark poverty and backwardness of the village, which seems untouched by time. The people live in squalor, illiteracy, and superstition, and their lives are dominated by ignorance and fear.

Example: Levi describes a young woman who has been paralyzed by a stroke and is confined to a cot in her home. The villagers believe that she is possessed by an evil spirit and fear to approach her.

Chapter 2: The Mayor

Levi meets the mayor of Gagliano, Don Luigi Magalone, a pompous and corrupt official who represents the oppressive force of the Fascist regime. Magalone disdains the villagers and treats them with contempt.

Example: Magalone refuses to provide Levi with a decent bed or proper food, and he constantly harasses him and tries to intimidate him.

Chapter 3: The Sorcerer

Levi encounters the local sorcerer, a mysterious old man who practices primitive magic and superstition. The sorcerer claims to possess the power to heal the sick and ward off evil spirits.

Example: The sorcerer performs a ritual to cure a sick child by sacrificing a black hen. Levi witnesses the ceremony with a mixture of fascination and horror.

Chapter 4: The Shepherds

Levi spends time with the shepherds who graze their flocks on the mountain pastures. The shepherds are a simple and hardworking people who live close to nature. They tell Levi stories of their lives and share their wisdom with him.

Example: Levi learns about the shepherd's practice of transhumance, where they move their flocks between different pastures depending on the season.

Chapter 5: The Women

Levi observes the lives of the women in Gagliano, who are confined to traditional roles and marginalized in society. They suffer from poverty, illiteracy, and domestic violence.

Example: Levi meets a woman named Giulia who has been brutally beaten by her husband. She tells Levi that she cannot escape because she has no means of support and nowhere else to go.

Chapter 6: The School

Levi teaches at the local school, where he tries to instill hope and education in the young children. He encounters resistance from the villagers, who are suspicious of outsiders and fear that education will disrupt their traditional way of life.

Example: Levi's students are eager to learn, but they face challenges due to their lack of books and resources.

Chapter 7: The Trial

Levi is accused of being a Communist and is subjected to a show trial in the village square. The villagers are forced to participate in the trial and denounce him.

Example: Levi is falsely accused of having called the local priest a "bastard." The villagers testify against him, even though they know that he is innocent.

Chapter 8: The Departure

After being acquitted at the trial, Levi leaves Gagliano and returns to Rome. He carries with him a deep understanding of the poverty and oppression he has witnessed.

Example: Levi's experience in Gagliano shapes his political views and leads him to become a vocal advocate for social justice.