EXPOSÉ
“It is change, continuing change, inevitable change, that is the dominant
factor in society today. No sensible decision can be made any longer
without taking into account not only the world as it is, but the world as it
will be.”
(http://www.memorablequotations.com)
This quotation by science fiction writer Isaac Asimov deals with two fundamental issues of this paper: “change” and “society”. All of our protagonists will, as is one of the characteristics of the short story, be shown at a turning point effecting change in their lives. Also, I am going to concentrate on the relationship between the tales (central) characters and society. Do they need society as a point of reference, or are they leading their lives independently from and with no relationship to the culture surrounding them? Do they come from another, for example Eastern European, background? If yes, can they adapt easily, do they have difficulties adapting or do they not intend to adapt at all?
Pointing out that Isaac Asimov is Jewish and therefore potentially relevant for this paper is superfluous. Yet not every author who happens to be Jewish can automatically be significant for this paper. For me, a certain amount of “Jewishness”, that is Jewish characters, a piece of Jewish tradition, religion or the presence of a Jewish neighborhood, was required for a tale to be considered.
This restriction would still leave thousands of authors and millions of narratives. Therefore I chose to treat only New York authors and selected their stories, among other criteria, according to setting, that is, their main location had to be New York City. Hence I included Grace Paley and left out perhaps better known writers, for example Saul Bellow, who is generally associated with Chicago more than any other city. [...]
Table of Contents
1. Is Jewish American literature multicultural literature?
2. Isaac Bashevis Singer
2.1 Biographical Notes
2.2 The Little Shoemakers
2.3 The Cafeteria
3. Bernard Malamud
3.1 Biographical Notes
3.2 The Mourners
3.3 Benefit Performance
4. Grace Paley
4.1 Biographical Notes
4.2 The Loudest Voice
4.3 Listening
5. Philip Roth
5.1 Biographical Notes
5.2 The Conversion of the Jews
Objectives and Core Themes
This thesis examines the role of communication and the relationship between individuals and their societal environment within Jewish American short stories. By analyzing selected works from Isaac Bashevis Singer, Bernard Malamud, Grace Paley, and Philip Roth, the research investigates how these authors depict characters struggling with cultural adaptation, the loss of tradition, and the potential for successful or failed interpersonal communication within the unique atmosphere of New York City.
- The impact of cultural and societal change on Jewish identity in the Diaspora.
- The significance of New York City as a setting for the immigrant experience and cultural clash.
- Generational conflicts and the breakdown of traditional communication channels.
- The role of religion, tradition, and ritual in the lives of displaced or assimilating individuals.
- The distinct narrative approaches to portraying Jewish "minority experience" versus assimilation.
Book Excerpt
The Cafeteria
Aaron claims he does not have a lot of time to spend with “the Yiddishists” (Singer, 1982: 287). They indulge in spending the better part of the day in each others’ company, talking about the olden days and acquaintances that have passed away. Aaron on the other had is in no need of their company and too busy to spend too much time with them. He, more than they, has adopted, if not assimilated to the American lifestyle. He spends his time writing novels, stories, and articles and is constantly going places: “It can happen that an hour after I leave the cafeteria I am on a train to Chicago or flying to California.” (Singer, 1982: 287). The reason he does have lunch with the others at the cafeteria is that people there look up to him, ask him for advice and cherish his ability and willingness to listen to their stories. Also, he shares some kind of common past with them and can even talk to them “in the mother language” (Singer, 1982: 287). Furthermore he can probably use the gossip he collects from the community of Eastern European Jews for his writing. Yet he claims to be different from them. He criticizes the conversations they are having, because
[e]veryone tries in his own way with all his means to grab as many honors and as much money and prestige as he can. None of us learns from these deaths. Old age does not cleanse us. We don’t repent at the fate of hell.” (Singer, 1982: 287f.)
Even though he himself is doing the exact same thing, he feels that this is below him and consequently considers himself to be superior to all the others present in the cafeteria. They are nothing but “would-be writers, retired teachers, some with dubious doctorate titles, a rabbi without a congregation, a painter of Jewish themes, a few translators” (Singer, 1982: 288).
Summary of Chapters
1. Is Jewish American literature multicultural literature?: This chapter investigates the contested categorization of Jewish American fiction within the framework of multicultural studies, highlighting the absence of a shared homeland or common history among Jewish authors.
2. Isaac Bashevis Singer: This section explores how Singer preserves the world of the Eastern European shtetl through his fiction, examining the tension between tradition and the realities of the Diaspora in stories like "The Little Shoemakers" and "The Cafeteria".
3. Bernard Malamud: This chapter analyzes Malamud’s portrayal of isolated characters struggling with existential questions and failed communication, focusing on the social landscape of the tenement in "The Mourners" and the self-centered perspective of the actor in "Benefit Performance".
4. Grace Paley: This section centers on Paley’s focus on women’s needs and societal roles, discussing how her characters like Shirley Abramowitz and Faith Darwin navigate communal belonging, political activism, and the complexity of modern family life.
5. Philip Roth: This chapter examines Roth’s exploration of the clash of generations and the limits of religious authority, particularly through the lens of identity crisis and social spectacle in "The Conversion of the Jews".
Keywords
Jewish American Literature, Short Story, Immigration, Assimilation, Communication, New York City, Isaac Bashevis Singer, Bernard Malamud, Grace Paley, Philip Roth, Identity, Diaspora, Cultural Change, Religion, Generation Conflict.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this thesis?
The thesis explores the themes of communication and the individual's relationship with society in selected works of Jewish American literature.
Which authors are central to the analysis?
The study focuses on Isaac Bashevis Singer, Bernard Malamud, Grace Paley, and Philip Roth.
What is the central research question?
The research asks how these protagonists navigate societal references, adaptation to host cultures, and whether they maintain or abandon their ties to the culture surrounding them.
Which scientific method is applied?
The work employs a literary analysis approach, closely reading selected short stories to examine character psychology, social dynamics, and the function of narrative techniques.
What are the thematic Schwerpunkte of the main part?
The main body deals with the contrast between tradition and modernity, the specific urban experience of Jewish immigrants in New York, and the recurring theme of failed or successful interpersonal dialogue.
Which keywords characterize this work?
Key terms include Jewish American literature, assimilation, Diaspora, identity, social isolation, and generational conflict.
How do Malamud’s protagonists differ from those of Grace Paley?
Malamud’s protagonists are typically portrayed as isolated "little people" cut off from society, whereas Paley’s characters are deeply embedded in their communities and are primarily defined by their social roles, particularly as women.
How does Philip Roth depict the "clash of generations" in his work?
Roth uses the religious and cultural education of the younger generation, exemplified by Ozzie Friedman, to challenge the unquestioned authority and dogma of the older, more tradition-bound generation.
- Quote paper
- Kristina Maul (Author), 2005, Communication and Society in Jewish American Short Stories: Isaac Bashevis Singer, Bernard Malamud, Grace Paley and Philip Roth, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/40713
