Ulmer's portrayal of such a largely superstitious village counteracts against the more logical and scientific reasoning that Mendele displays to the audience, highlighting Ulmer's goal of furthering the ideas of the Hashkalah movement. Mendele's presence and action throughout the film has significant impact on the furtherance of Jewish Enlightenment ideas and on the storyline of the film as a whole. The character Mendele is central to the action in The Light Ahead through his influence over the development of the film's narrative and his role in advocating for the adoption of Jewish Enlightenment ideas. In the beginning scenes of the film, Mendele convinces Fishke to stay in his shtetl for Hodel rather than leave for Odessa in pursuit of more beggar money (The Light Ahead). His aside with Fishke fundamentally changes the storyline of the film, as the film is built upon Fishke and Hodel's relationship. In order for the pivotal conflict of the Gitel's death to arise, Fishke has to stay in his shtetl until he leaves with Hodel after their marriage. Following Gitel's death from cholera, Mendele then pushes for allocating funds for the sanitation of the
Ulmer's portrayal of such a largely superstitious village counteracts against the more logical and scientific reasoning that Mendele displays to the audience, highlighting Ulmer's goal of furthering the ideas of the Hashkalah movement. Mendele's presence and action throughout the film has significant impact on the furtherance of Jewish Enlightenment ideas and on the storyline of the film as a whole. The character Mendele is central to the action in The Light Ahead through his influence over the development of the film's narrative and his role in advocating for the adoption of Jewish Enlightenment ideas. In the beginning scenes of the film, Mendele convinces Fishke to stay in his shtetl for Hodel rather than leave for Odessa in pursuit of more beggar money (The Light Ahead). His aside with Fishke fundamentally changes the storyline of the film, as the film is built upon Fishke and Hodel's relationship. In order for the pivotal conflict of the Gitel's death to arise, Fishke has to stay in his shtetl until he leaves with Hodel after their marriage. Following Gitel's death from cholera, Mendele then pushes for allocating funds for the sanitation of the