Conrad And Anti-Semitism

As children, we look up to our parents. Just by listening to the things they say and how they act can have a huge impact on the way a child grows up and the way they experience life. Conrad, the main character from the novel, Conrad in Beverly Hills, grows up in Beverly Hills with parents who seem to not care or understand the way Conrad feels about his life. Specifically his father, Morse Keppler, has a tremendous impact on Conrad because he talks a lot about anti-semitism in very negative ways around Conrad as a child and young teenager. Conrad listens and hears all of the stereotypical yet negative things that Morse says about Jewish people which in return, makes Conrad see himself as a Jewish who does not really fit in to any crowd in Beverly Hills. As Conrad gets older, we see how this has impacted him because he explains how he does not …show more content…
In the chapter, The Real George, George Dunleavy makes a guest appearance where he also expresses hatred of the Jews that will ultimately have an effect on Conrad. He describes his relationship with George’s son, Lance, who were good friends because they both worked on the Senior Breakfast Committee together. George and Conrad have a conversation the day before Conrad leaves for Berkeley and even though George is not Jewish at all the topic of Jews come up because he is also an anti-semite. George expresses his hatred of Jews in a comment and apologizes to Conrad, thinking he would be mad because he made fun of Jewish people. Conrad obviously has no problem with the harsh comment made about Jews because he is also anti-semitic. This short interaction between the two men made a lasting impression on Conrad because he brings it up years later. This made Conrad more comfortable with being anti-semitic and even maybe encouraged Conrad to hate Jewish people