Giovanni + David Reject Society Also and Their Religious Beliefs

Giovanni and David were already "nontraditional" in the sense that they had a homosexual relationship. Could they also be in conflict with civilization in their religious beliefs?

"...I had made a baby but it was born dead...we spanked it...we sprinkled it with holy water and we prayed but it never made a sound, it was dead...I took our crucifix off the wall and I spat on it..." (139-140). Clearly in this sequence of events, Giovanni is in despair because his child was born stillborn. By spitting on the crucifix and throwing it on the ground, he seems to reject God. Giovanni seems to place the onus for his child's death on God. By rejecting God, he goes against the traditions of society which provide that one should pray and fear God.

"He kisses the cross and clings to it. The priest gently lifts the cross away...He moans. He wants to spit, but his mouth is dry..." (168). Again, spitting on the cross is obviously a rejection of God. Although, Giovanni does not do so here, he clearly in David's imagination has the desire to do so. This also goes against society's traditions.

"...[The Italian woman] asks, abruptly, "Do you pray?" I wonder if I can stand this one more moment. "No," I stammer..."But you are a believer?" I smile. It is not even a patronizing smile though, perhaps I wish it could be, "Yes" (69). When the woman asks him if he prays, David stammers. From this action, one understands that David does not like being asked this question for some reason. Then after she asks if he is a believer, he wants to have a patronizing smile. he wants to have an air of condescension towards her. Maybe he thinks that her religious beliefs are false or maybe he thinks having a religion at all is futile. He seems to say yes to just to get her to stop bothering him.

Throughout these different examples, there seems to b a recurring idea: Giovanni and David reject traditional religion. Both of these individuals' actions speak for their true beliefs. Neither comes out and says he is an atheist. But, from their actions, one can see that David and Giovanni are atheists.