Thought #1: The experience of immigration during the time in which this novel takes place, was a tumultuous one at the very least. It was not a simple transition from one life to another, it was a complete upheaval of a former life in exchange for a chaotic, uncertain existence in the next. Sara's parents clinging with such fervor to the so-called "old world" in the face of the unfamiliarity and cruelty of the new, is a completely human response, one that I cannot vilify them for (no matter how easy her father makes it for me)
Thought #2: In our discussion today, we touched on how immigration can exacerbate the generation gap that exists between parents and their children. It seemed that the blame was and is placed on the battle between the parents who fight for the "old world" and their American born children who yearn for the "new". My contention, however, is that it is not the battle between the old and the new that isolates one generation from another, but the notion that a battle, that a choice, between old and new, is even necessary. The beauty of America (cue "Stars and Stripes Forever") is that you don't have to choose between the "old" and the "new", they can, and do, co-exist and if we (this is relevant to our generation too) were to rid ourselves of the desire to wage ideological war with one another, and realize how indispensable varied modes of thought are to the American identity, the chasm that divides us, would begin to close.
Uncle Sam - Strong Features
"Uncle Sam is a Man of Strong Features" (1898)
As to your thought #1, I agree that we cannot vilify the father for wanting to hold onto his "old world" ways. I find it hard though, to forgive him for not assimilating in some ways at the expense of his family. I do not know a lot about the jewish culture and learned many new things in class today. I am still a little shocked at how a man can spend all his time studying and not helping his family. We that at some point he wants to buy a business for his family and run the grocery store, so it is in head to be making money. What had been stopping him all along that suddenly changed? People make sacrifces regardless of religion or race or sex. Why is he willing to make them now and not when he had all those mouths to feed. He has less children at home to not only feed but to take money from. Seems extremely selfish to me.
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