In Memoirs of an Anti-Semite, Gregor von Rezzori tells a unique story of anti-Semitism in Eastern Central during the 1900s. In the five stories stories, von Rezzori portrays anti-Semitism through the various life stages of the main character. Arnulf, a Romanian journeyman, who continues to have significant relationships with different Jews throughout his life. It is through Arnulf, his development, and the numerous people that he encounters, that von Rezzori explains the construction of identity and the concepts of assimilation and anti-Semitism. The picture of East Central Europe during the 1900s becomes clear because of the interactions that Arnulf has, and the characteristics that he acquires.
The first way in which the construction of the Jewish identity is made clear is through Arnulf’s commentary on his experiences. Arnulf is fascinated with female Jews, but their Jewishness hinderers him from completely falling in love with them. This was exemplified during his adventures as a young salesman and his interest in Black Widow, “My courageously seeing the Black Widow as a Jew and wanting to love her even though she was Jewish – no,
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The identities are as much of a product of circumstance as they are anything else. Arnulf’s journey demonstrates how the Jewish identity became one of fear, uncertainty, exclusion. It also demonstrates how groups can be stateless and individuals can be lost wanderers. And in Memoirs of an Anti-Semite, assimilation is the key to creating an environment that will yield a product that is greater than what the marginalized group is accustomed to. This was evident when Arnulf mentioned how Jews change their name, or when the Gypsy girl teased Arnulf and he brought her to a hotel room. Assimilation is firstly about surviving, but it is also about