Struggle

One of the most prevalent themes of the book is that of struggle. There is a continual struggle between Turi and Don Croce. Don Croce was a powerful Mafia Don who controlled the black market in Sicily after the war. His power extended to all levels of business and government. Turi was a young man who featured the Mafia and tried to stay away from it. When he got into trouble for killing a police officer who shot him, he fled to the hills. His godfather used his influence with Don Croce for the boy to have protection and a good paying job with the Mafia don, but Turi turned it down. He and his cousin Aspanu fled to the hills and became bandits.

Turi developed a plan to help the people of Sicily as a bandit by giving half of the profits to the needy. This made...