Tolerance and Adaptation of A Migrated Jew Family
The main character, featured in Bruno Lessing's short story, “ The Americanization of Shadrach Cohen“, may have just set foot in the United States of America but he was not ready to be Americanized just yet.
Unlike his sons who had neglected many of their Russian Jewish traditions since their arrival few years ago, Cohen would love to see his sons preserve their heritage while adapting to the American culture. His sons wanted to lead an American life, while Cohen still held strong to his own customs. All these differences formed a wall between Cohen and his sons. Eventually, when compromise is reached, they have realized the true meaning of preserving original customs whilst being in an alien culture.
Shadrach Cohen migrated to America following invitations by his sons. He was annoyed by the way his sons were Americanized, as his sons demanded him to have a change in appearance and not to be seen as the “perfect type of immigrant whose appearance they had so frequently ridiculed“. They had also left out the tenets, such as the prayers after meal. At the same time, his sons also denounced him. They were so proud to be Americanized and could not accept the fact that their father was still so Jewish. They “looked at each other in dismay” when they saw Cohen in gaberdine and wearing long grey beard. Conflicts between the father and sons started to arise.
The unfavorable situation sustained until one day Cohen “entered upon the task of familiarizing himself with the details of the business“. He had taken over the business once managed by his sons. Gradually he taught them the key to success. The prosperity of the business has amazed his sons. This has helped to change his sons' impression on him. They were proud of him, and began to respect and look up to their father. As the business grew, the sons felt the pressure and increased responsibility. Soon they turned back to their tenets and religion for consolation.
On the other hand, it was also a long process to make Cohen gradually realize the charm of American life, that of liberty and of democracy. After the raging moment he burst to express his dissatisfaction towards his sons, the takeover of business led him to make more interactions with American businessmen, and he learned many things, especially the faculty of adaptability. He changed to a more flexible man. He became a more broad-minded and tolerant person. He had found the balance between the present surroundings and his old life in Russia.
It was seen that even until the end of the story, Cohen still remained his Russian Jewish ways, cladding the long gaberdine and ringlets of hair that fell over the ears. Prayers after meal were still continued but these old ways did not annoy the sons anymore. Gottlieb, one of his sons, even brought his wife to see him, which he had once rejected Cohen’s request to meet her. The family had learned the true meaning of preserving their own culture while adapting the good values of a new culture.
The writer explored the conflict of thoughts and principles of the individuals in the Cohen family. Through the narration of the characters in the story, especially Shadrach Cohen, there is a lesson to learn – we shall control our feelings and shall not show our displeasure over things that annoy us. At the same time, the message the writer seems to put across through the characters of Abel and Gottlieb Cohen is that we shall always respect our parents and elderly no matter how indifferent we are. Abel and Gottlieb learned to look at things beyond the words of “being more American” and finally grew to be their ownselves.
