[NGFP-BookClub] Tevye

[Manja Ressler]

ruth wisse wrote:

>  I think what helps him keep his balance is that he can interpret what 
> happens to him instead of letting himself be defined by what happens 
> to him.

I doubt whether that is true. He is defined very much by his 'in 
between' situation in a world where the power of tradition is dwindling, 
but where no alternative is available either. His interpretation of what 
happens to him is beside the point when it comes to being able to 
respond to threats to his way of life, or even his very existence.

> He may not always quote accurately, but he feels the Torah and the 
> prayers belong to him: he can use them to define who he is, what he 
> feels. His  actions may be limited. His reactions are "unlimited." He 
> is free to joke, to mourn, and to protest. 

... which is the freedom of the powerless. If there is one thing we can 
learn from reading about Tevye, it is how utterly powerless we ourselves 
are when it comes to historical developments. Like Tevye, we grope 
around in the dark, and just hope we are doing the right thing, but more 
often then not, we become our own worst enemies, by applying concepts 
from the past to our current situation.

> Does this affect the quality of his life? 

Yes, it does. As much as he tries to hold on to his sense of humor, as 
much as he prays and (mis)quotes, he is not able to make a judgement 
about the nature of the developments in the world around him. In the 
end, this means that he has to drift with the tide, and is unable to 
shape his own destiny.

> Is this a good model to follow?

Probably not, but, as I said, we are more like Tevye than we care to admit

> In reading these stories do we identify with the daughters or with the 
> father?

I don't think Sholem Aleichem allows us to identify with anyone but 
Tevye. He shares Tevye's inner turmoils with us, the struggle between 
his love of Jewish tradition and the love he feels for his daughters. Of 
course we identify with the daughters as well, but not to the extent 
that we do with Tevye, he is the most  'rounded' character in the story.
Shabbat  Shalom,
Manja