[NGFP-BookClub] further thoughts on Tevye
ngfp-bookclub@lists.ngfp.org
ngfp-bookclub@lists.ngfp.org
Wed, 5 May 2004 12:31:13 EDT
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In a message dated 5/5/2004 9:27:18 AM Central Standard Time,
wisse@fas.harvard.edu writes:
This whole passage is so ironic that some readers assumed Tevye no longer
really believed in God at all.
Not once did I ever question that Judaism and a belief in God is central to
Tevye's life. His certain knowledge (and it is more than a belief) that God is
aware of him as an individual is probably Tevye's defining characteristic.
Also, I wasn't so much saying that I couldn't see the ironic humor in a lot
of Tevye's "quotations" (they are really interpretations); I was making more of
a general statement about Sholom's writings in general, much of which are not
humorous at all. I gave Yentl as an example but that story is not the only
one where the bitterness at life's injustices comes through without even an
attempt to see a humorous side. (Anyway, I don't see one.)
Another point that I don't think anyone mentioned, is that Tevye himself does
not see the humor in his statements or his situation. Tevye is not witty or
clever, he basically "calls life as he sees it" and he sees it from a very
narrow, provincial perspective. I also doubt that Tevye contemporaries
considered him a "funny fellow"; it is much more amusing from the outside looking in.
In addition, the humor of Tevye the Dairyman is a very specific type that is
representative of uneducated people. This is very different from the humor of
someone like Jack Paar, for example. And I am not talking about the humor
from poverty which is something else altogether.
Just throwing out some thoughts to ponder. I'd be interested in how the
other students feel about some of the points I've raised.
Dafna
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<DIV>
<DIV>In a message dated 5/5/2004 9:27:18 AM Central Standard Time, wisse@fas=
.harvard.edu writes:</DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE style=3D"PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: blue=20=
2px solid"><FONT face=3DArial>This whole passage is so ironic that some read=
ers assumed Tevye no longer really believed in God at all. </FONT></BLOCKQUO=
TE></DIV>
<DIV>Not once did I ever question that Judaism and a belief in God is centra=
l to Tevye's life. His certain knowledge (and it is more than a b=
elief) that God is aware of him as an individual is probably Tevye's definin=
g characteristic. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Also, I wasn't so much saying that I couldn't see the ironic humor in a=
lot of Tevye's "quotations" (they are really interpretations); I was making=
more of a general statement about Sholom's writings in general, much of whi=
ch are not humorous at all. I gave Yentl as an example but that story=20=
is not the only one where the bitterness at life's injustices comes through=20=
without even an attempt to see a humorous side. (Anyway, I don't see o=
ne.) </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Another point that I don't think anyone mentioned, is that Tevye himsel=
f does not see the humor in his statements or his situation. Tevye is=20=
not witty or clever, he basically "calls life as he sees it" and he sees it=20=
from a very narrow, provincial perspective. I also doubt that Tevye co=
ntemporaries considered him a "funny fellow"; it is much more amusing from t=
he outside looking in.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>In addition, the humor of Tevye the Dairyman is a very specific ty=
pe that is representative of uneducated people. This is very different=
from the humor of someone like Jack Paar, for example. And I am not t=
alking about the humor from poverty which is something else altogether. =
; </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Just throwing out some thoughts to ponder. I'd be interested in h=
ow the other students feel about some of the points I've raised.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Dafna</DIV></BODY></HTML>
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