Ida (Ramundo) Mancuso

Ida can be considered the main character ter in this story because the chain of events that unfolds is primarily associated with her and her two sons. Ida is a school teacher whose father was Jewish. She is shy and frightened and lives in a state of tension over the possibility of being discovered as being half-Jewish. Ida is not an authoritative parent, and when her rebellious son, Nino, begins to wander the streets and smoke cigarettes at fifteen years of age, she protests, but to no avail. He manipulates her for money and she allows him free access to the house, including housing and caring for his two dogs, which she cannot afford. She is frustrated by his use of bad language and his involvement in dangerous dealings, but is powerless over him. For the rest of his life, Ida wonders and worries about Nino...