Analysis Of Yekl: A Tale Of The New York Ghetto

279 Words2 Pages

Andrew Enright
Professor Long
EXPO 1213-008
9 September 2015
Yekl: An Attempt of Assimilation Nineteenth century America: a “Promised Land” for Russian Jews. Anti-Semitic pogroms were an ongoing major conflict in Russia, causing thousands of Jews to flee towards America—the land of freedom, inalienable rights, and equal opportunity. In Abraham Cahan’s novella, Yekl: A Tale of the New York Ghetto, Jake exemplifies the struggle many Russian Jews faced when adopting a new culture. Jake’s assimilation into American culture and his attempts of removing himself from his Jewish culture cause him to go from being the victim to victimizing other, less assimilated immigrant Jews, including his family. According to Michael Walzer, author of What It Means

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