The King of Mulberry Street

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes a discussion of religious discrimination, child abuse, and child death.

For human beings in a new, hostile environment, survival requires more than physical ability, but also heightened mental awareness. For Dom, alone as a nine-year old on a ship and in America, he utilizes a mixture of daring and caution in his observations and actions. His quick thinking and perseverance ensure that he not only survives but thrives in the unknown world of New York City.

Always observing his surroundings, Dom exhibits cleverness and quick thinking. Alone on the ship, instead of panicking, he formulates an idea: “The crew came to count on me. It was part of my plan. If they needed me, they’d take me back with them gladly” (40). Understanding the perils of his situation, Dom recognizes the value of hard work and identifies it as a ticket home. Although this plan is unsuccessful, Dom’s intelligence helps him in New York City too, for he immediately finds work and earns food. When he establishes a sandwich business with Gaetano and Tin Pan Alley, he is mugged and loses his money. Instead of giving up, he forges ahead, earning a penny at Grandinetti’s and storing his

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