The show
The show As a result of their refusal to accept his sexuality, the Italian-Canadian family in In Gabriel's Kitchen is compelled to deal with the loss of their children. Reviewing the circumstances that led to a son's death and looking for a family compromise in light of their part in the unfortunate incident. In essence, Gabriel chooses to end his life when he finds out that his family disapproves of his choice to come out as gay. His youngest brother, who shortly after Gabriel's passing left the household, returns home for Christmas and initiates a torrent of emotions from his parents when he confronts them about their unwillingness to converge around the fact that they may have been responsible for Gabriel's death (Antonio 12). For so long the family has shied away from the topic but Marco's - the youngest son - makes an inquiry into the unrelenting nature of the decisions that inspired the death of Gabriel, he is met with backlash. Essentially, the two characters, mother and son, commit to flashbacks which allow the audience an insight into the character of the deceased son and the pain and void that he has left within his family upon his death. Gabriel's mother reviews some of the events in her son's life and it is through the reflections that she is able to come to terms with her son's true nature irrespective of his sexuality.<\/p>
Aesthetic and Thematic Breadth<\/h2>
The theme of tolerance and understanding comprises one of the major elements of the play In Gabriel's Kitchen. From the reflections on his son's experiences from childhood to adulthood, Gabriel's mother finds it in her heart to accept his son's professed sexuality (Antonio 32). She realizes that she should not have alienated her son simply because of his sexuality. The theme is a reflection of the reinforcement of tolerance in the contemporary Italian Canadian dramatic literature. Italian Canadian literature is presently committed to the assessment of individuality against the ethos which are set by the society. Thus, one's identity in their community and the implications of the same on the relationships within the subject society. Gabriel's narrative speaks to the need for increased tolerance of individuals who project different behavioral inclinations. When Marco refuses to overlook the death of his brother and commits his mother to an intensive inquiry, he is essentially seeking to promote the identity of the homosexuals irrespective of the Canadian community's loather for the homosexuals.<\/p>
Belonging
Belonging comprises an intrinsic part of the entire drama. When Gabriel open up about his sexuality, he was looking to be embraced by his family - to belong with the people that he considered important. The rejection he is extended by his closest family members inspires feelings of hopelessness which in turn lead to his suicide (Antonio 17). Such a culmination might have been avoided if the society around him did not commit to pre-determined metrics in defining who could belong in the community. The depth of the recollections of Gabriel's mother provides an insight into the detrimental nature of conservatism in the contemporary Italian Canadian literature. At a time when there is increased conflict over the immensity of identity in literature, In Gabriel's Kitchen examines the implications of seclusion on individuals who do not meet the behavioral metrics that have been erected by the societies that they thrive in.<\/p>
Work Cited
Antonio, Salvatore. In Gabriel’s Kitchen. Playwrights Canada Press, 2007.
