ipl-logo

Assimilation In Anzia Yezierska's Bread Givers

684 Words3 Pages

Assimilation is a recurring theme in Anzia Yezierska's novel Bread Givers. Bread Givers, while emphasizing the importance of developing an American identity, exemplifies America's allure for Jewish children who come here and have their lives drastically altered. Sara Smolinsky, a little girl, is the protagonist of the novel. In the story, she grows up in an impoverished family with an obstinate and mentally abusive father. Fania, Mashah, and Bessie are her three sisters. Sara starts out by watching as her father destroys the dreams of her three elder sisters and sets them up in terrible marriages. Sara objects when he tries the same with her. In rebellion, she leaves her family’s home in order to work and pay for her school. Despite being …show more content…

Sara and her family are going through this assimilation process because they believe they will be welcomed by society and adopt American identities. For immigrants’ transitions, and Sara in particular, a reality of independence is strongly desired. She seeks to become independent of her family and her cultural background because she believes that independence is a sign of authenticity and originality. This process is a combination of self-creation and Americanization. English language skills and a method of education are also critical components of cultural assimilation. Simultaneously, mastering these American cultural skills by immigrants and their offspring leads to better jobs and, thus, greater earnings. Bread Givers places a lot of emphasis on language acquisition since being proficient in English is regarded as proof of Americanization. For most of the novel, Sara Smolinsky struggles to achieve the best education possible in order to depart from her parents’ way of …show more content…

Reb went to America with his family of six during a mass migration from Russia, Poland, Latvia, Lithuania, and Ukraine. Reb's assimilation was a more difficult journey due to his unfamiliarity with English and the customs of the United States. Reb faced more obstacles in his journey to assimilation than Sara Smolinsky, as he had a language barrier and had to navigate new customs while adjusting to his new home. Reb maintained his Jewish practices even when in America. Sara didn't appear to appreciate it because it distracted Reb from making money, leaving it to the rest of the family. Despite the hardships, Reb's deep conviction in Judaism and determination to persevere without working eventually led to his failure to assimilate into his new life. In the midst of great struggle and injustice, he embraced his faith, thinking that it was an essential element of his identity. In the end Sara has the weight of her fathers life on her shoulders, she knows if she has him live with her that she will need to participate in his stringent

Show More
Related

Comparing Danny And Reuven In The Chosen, By Chaim Potok

1116 Words | 5 Pages

On the other hand, Reb Saunders is an anti zionist against all efforts aimed at the establishment of a Jewish state prior to the arrival of Messiah. He believes that “A man is born into this world with a tiny spark of goodness in him. The spark is God, it is the soul; the rest is ugliness and evil, a shell.” pg 282 This quote portrays Reb Saunders beliefs that as a Jew, his one purpose is to serve God.

Read More

Summary Of How The Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents By Julia Alvarez

714 Words | 3 Pages

This story is exactly what Julia Alvarez went through. It’s her life story. In the book Yolanda plays Julia’s role. The story relates accurately to how the family struggled having to adapt to the American culture. “As the only immigrant in my class, I was put in a special seat in the front row by the window, apart from the other children so that sister Zoe could tutor me without disturbing them” (“How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents” 166).

Read More

Summary Of The Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents By Julia Alvarez

494 Words | 2 Pages

For immigrants, it is hard to be accepted in America, in this case, "Latino/ Hispanic" immigrants. Not only do they have to face the struggle of living in America but face all the cultural aspect as well. In The Garcia Girls lost Their Accents Julia Alvarez shows many adversities in forms of literary devices. Immigrants go through many hardships such as dual identity, gender inequality, and cultural expectation.

Read More

Spiritual Conflicts In The Promise By Chaim Potok

1558 Words | 7 Pages

In his book The Promise Chaim Potok leads the reader on a heartbreaking journey full of spiritual conflict and decision. As a sequel to The Chosen, The Promise picks up with Reuven Malter, the main character and a Jewish man now in his mid-twenties, attending Hirsch University, a Jewish seminary in Brooklyn, New York. Reuven keeps his friendship with Danny Saunders, whom he met on a baseball field during his teenage years and later went to college with, even though they now go their separate ways as Reuven becomes a rabbi, and Danny practices psychology. During the summer Reuven dates Rachel Gordon, the niece of Abraham Gordon, a man excommunicated from the Jewish society, and meets Abraham’s son, Michael, a stubborn teen with a mental issue. Also, over the same summer Reuven’s father, David Malter, wrote a controversial book about the Talmud.

Read More

The Susan Dominus Article 'The Displaced: Hana'

140 Words | 1 Pages

Instead, she performs strenuous labor in Lebanon in order to provide for her family. Hana’s story is a reminder of their unwelcomed presence, though the refugees are innocent and simply trying to survive. She is an example of youth and childhood

Read More

Compare And Contrast Richard Rodriguez And Anzaldúa

701 Words | 3 Pages

Richard Rodriguez and Gloria Anzaldúa are two authors who both immigrated to America in the 1950s and received first hand experience of the assimilation process into American society. During this time, Rodriguez and Anzaldúa had struggled adjusting to the school system. Since understanding English was difficult, it made adjusting to the American school system increasingly difficult for Rodriguez. Whereas Anzaldúa, on the other hand, had trouble adjusting to America’s school system due to the fact that she didn’t wish to stop speaking Spanish even though she could speak English. Both Rodriguez and Anzaldúa had points in their growing educational lives where they had to remain silent since the people around them weren’t interested in hearing them speaking any other language than English.

Read More

Linda Chavez: Should Immigrants Assimilate?

673 Words | 3 Pages

In 2008, Linda Chavez wrote an article for Tucson Citizen, “Immigration policy’s goal should be assimilation”, and in 2009, Laura Marcus participated in a debate under the question, “Should immigrants assimilate?” Chavez, an author and talk show host believes that to be a “successful” immigrant, assimilation is important. Marcus, a student at Yale during the time of her debate, argues that to ask an

Read More

Americanized Rebel Without A Green Card Essay

579 Words | 3 Pages

Sara says, "I remember once asking my dad if he felt like he belonged in America. He said he didn't know. He said he always felt like an outsider, like he was always observing but never really participating" (Saedi 4). This demonstrates how difficult cultural assimilation can be for some people, particularly those who have strong ties to their cultural heritage. Sara's father's experience demonstrates how cultural assimilation is a difficult process, with individuals facing unique challenges based on their cultural background and personal

Read More

Bread Givers Identity Analysis

1078 Words | 5 Pages

We all know that its really hard to afford college but she does it with the money from work. When she gets to college it isn’t really what she was thinking it would be. The people aren’t as nice as she hoped and the classes end up being harder then she thought. She doesn’t have any friends, she sits at home and focuses on her studies. Sara gets sent to the deans office a few times and end up having a strong friendship with the dean because she reminds him a lot of his grandma when she can to the States.

Read More

Environment In Sonny's Blues And The Lesson

963 Words | 4 Pages

Sylvia feels she betrayed by her best friend because at first they hate Miss Moore and after the trip, everything has changed. However, Sylvia realizes that what Sugar say are all true. Sylvia and other children understand what Miss Moore is trying to teach them a lesson. Sylvia changes her point of

Read More

Friendship Exposed In Chaim Potok's The Chosen

497 Words | 2 Pages

Reuven is inspired by Danny to become more involved in his religious community, and become a rabbi. The character transitioned from someone with a burning anger towards the Hasidics, who were incredibly religious, to someone near that level. While this is interesting to watch across the pages of the novel, it leads to a simple and basic plot line. Despite the lack of plot, the characters incite some build up in the story. There is a visible inciting incident, but the climax is difficult to define because of the lack of build up the book exhibits.

Read More

Mitch Albom's Eulogy

1420 Words | 6 Pages

Instead of selfishly wanting to experience all of the world that he can, the Reb is content to make an impact on the lives of those he encounters while he is still here. For example, Mitch may have just forgotten about his old rabbi and his faith if the Reb had not asked Mitch to do his eulogy. The Reb decided to invest in Mitch and trust him to carry on his memory, especially by doing his eulogy. He must have had a lot of faith in Mitch to trust him in this way. This could have also been the Reb’s way of “touching everything”; he takes chances on people whenever her can in hopes of them remembering him and his

Read More

Assimilation In America

301 Words | 2 Pages

For many new immigrants coming to America, it is difficult to adjust into the new society. Many come to America without the basic knowledge of English, the new immigrants do not have the ability assimilate to American society because of the lack of possible communication between the immigrant and an native. Non-English speaking immigrants that come to America face harsh challenges when trying to assimilate to U.S. society because immigrants are often segregated into ethnic communities away from natives, Americans do not know basics of words of other well known languages, and the lack of government funding education programs. Assimilation into a new society is difficult enough, but when the society pushes any new immigrants to separate part

Read More

Mla Citation For Little Bees

1058 Words | 5 Pages

In this book I have gotten to know both Sarah and Little Bee. Sarah, a middle aged women in her 30’s, has a young four year old named Charlie. She lives in a depressed marriage with her husband Andrew. Sarah is a self-centered woman. She often makes the readers feel apologetic for her because she sometimes plays the victim.

Read More

Marxist Criticism In 'The Lesson'

723 Words | 3 Pages

In fact, as the author in this story, Toni Cade Bambara, Sylvia grew up in a very poor neighborhood. Sylvia’s understanding of the world is limited to what she experiences within her neighborhood and her tiny apartment. Scarcity and want are no strangers to her. Luckily, Sylvia and the other kids have Miss Moore as a mentor. Miss Moore begins to work within the kids’ environment to enrich them inasmuch as possible with education.

Read More

More about Assimilation In Anzia Yezierska's Bread Givers

Related Topics

Open Document