Genre
Short story; literary fiction.
Setting and Context
The story is set in the early twentieth century on an unnamed island off the southern coast of Italy.
Narrator and Point of View
The story is narrated by an unnamed first-person narrator who uses a third-person narration for the majority of the story. The point of view shifts between the narrator and Salvatore.
Tone and Mood
The tone is contemplative and heartwarming; the mood is subdued.
Protagonist and Antagonist
The protagonist is Salvatore; the antagonist is the girl who rejects him.
Major Conflict
The major conflict in the story is that Salvatore cannot marry the girl he loves because she and her family reject him after learning of his debilitating rheumatism.
Climax
The story reaches its climax when Salvatore marries Assunta and cultivates a happy, humble home life with her.
