Jon Dyllan Shoemake
10/5/15
Hist. 17
M-W 12:00-1:30
Paper #1
Prompt: By the end of Anzia Yezierska’s 1925 immigrant novel
Bread Givers, has Sara Smolinsky succeeded in making herself into an “American”? Why or why not?
By the end of the novel Bread Givers, The Main character Sara Smolinsky has succeeded in making herself into an American. Through her experiences in life, she shaped herself into a self sufficient adult. She becomes this way by following the Culturally valued American ideals of hard work through perseverance; as well as by shedding old-world held values. The novel begins on hester street in the lower east side of new york city. The Smolinskys have recently moved to America to escape the persecution of the russian czar's …show more content…
While in the early chapters of the novel she has a respect for her father and how passionately he respected the torah; as she grew older she resented him more and more. Simultaneously, while she is growing to resent her father and his ways; She is growing up in America. One day when she is a small child, the family does not have enough money for food. Sara goes to the market and buys some fish to turn it for a profit. This is the first time she feels like an American. The market was crowded and Sara amongst an even competition earns her family’s meal. She expresses a great pride and joy for the funds she earns that day. That is an American held value, to earn your independence through hard work. She carries that independent drive for the rest of her life. It allows her to run away from home unlike her sisters. It allows her to go to school and pursue her degree. Throughout the novel Sara experiences what it is like to be an outsider. While she does become an American by the end of the novel. She is constantly reminded that she is an outsider throughout the novel. She experiences gender oppression in the cafeteria when she receives smaller portions than her male counterparts. She is mocked in the university by the other girls when Sara tries to dress more like them, more american. Still she continues her hard work and she leaves the university with her degree and an auditorium literally cheering
10/5/15
Hist. 17
M-W 12:00-1:30
Paper #1
Prompt: By the end of Anzia Yezierska’s 1925 immigrant novel
Bread Givers, has Sara Smolinsky succeeded in making herself into an “American”? Why or why not?
By the end of the novel Bread Givers, The Main character Sara Smolinsky has succeeded in making herself into an American. Through her experiences in life, she shaped herself into a self sufficient adult. She becomes this way by following the Culturally valued American ideals of hard work through perseverance; as well as by shedding old-world held values. The novel begins on hester street in the lower east side of new york city. The Smolinskys have recently moved to America to escape the persecution of the russian czar's …show more content…
While in the early chapters of the novel she has a respect for her father and how passionately he respected the torah; as she grew older she resented him more and more. Simultaneously, while she is growing to resent her father and his ways; She is growing up in America. One day when she is a small child, the family does not have enough money for food. Sara goes to the market and buys some fish to turn it for a profit. This is the first time she feels like an American. The market was crowded and Sara amongst an even competition earns her family’s meal. She expresses a great pride and joy for the funds she earns that day. That is an American held value, to earn your independence through hard work. She carries that independent drive for the rest of her life. It allows her to run away from home unlike her sisters. It allows her to go to school and pursue her degree. Throughout the novel Sara experiences what it is like to be an outsider. While she does become an American by the end of the novel. She is constantly reminded that she is an outsider throughout the novel. She experiences gender oppression in the cafeteria when she receives smaller portions than her male counterparts. She is mocked in the university by the other girls when Sara tries to dress more like them, more american. Still she continues her hard work and she leaves the university with her degree and an auditorium literally cheering