Set in the small fishing village of Aci Trezza on the east coast of Sicily, "The House by the Medlar-Tree" tells the story of the Malavoglia family, who live in a modest house named after the medlar tree that grows outside. The head of the family is Padron 'Ntoni, an elderly man who represents traditional values and the patriarchal structure of rural Sicilian life. The family relies on their fishing boat, the "Provvidenza," as their primary source of income.The novel begins with the family's decision to invest in a load of lupini (a type of legume) to sell in a nearby town. This investment is intended to improve their financial situation, but it proves disastrous when the boat carrying the lupini sinks in a storm, leading to a series of misfortunes for the Malavoglia family.