Essay Draft Two

 May 19, 2007

Title

America, known as a melting pot, draws to its shores many immigrants every year. Some of them are affected by the American culture and are thus Americanized. However, when these people are adapting to a new environment, they are losing their cultural identities at the same time. A lack of sense of belonging is rather common amongst those immigrants. They tend to question where indeed they belong.

Aware of this situation, an author named Bruno Lessing presented a story “The Americanization of Shadrach Cohen” to set a good example to the immigrants. In the story Shadrach Cohen, an old-fashioned Jewish father, goes to the United States to live with his two Americanized sons. In coping with the conflicts with them, Shadrach makes the family business prosper and adjusts well to the American society, thus gaining the respect of both his sons and some Americans. Although the Americanization happened in Shadrach Cohen seemingly should be given credit to his accomplishments, the way he firmly clings to his Jewish religious beliefs is actually the key factor that contributes to his success in a broader sense.

What is Shadrach Cohen like? The first sentence of the story gives us a hint. “There is no set rule for the turning of the worm; most worms, however, turn unexpectedly” (45). A worm can represent something submissive or obedient, just like Shadrach Cohen first appears. “Shadrach never lost his temper; never upbraided them (his sons)” (47). He is a gentle person by nature. Although his sons boldly ridicule his beard and garment the moment they see him, he “shuts his lips tightly for a moment” (46) rather than counter or criticize his sons. Despite his sons’ unfair treatment to him, Shadrach still loves them deeply, even though the only thing that concerns his sons is money.

Shadrach and his sons might as well remain in the peaceful situation if his sons don’t touch the bottom line—Shadrach’s religious beliefs. When Gottlieb doesn’t want Shadrach to see his future bride for fear that the girl doesn’t like Shadrach’s Jewish ways, Shadrach finally loses his temper. He can tolerate his sons’ dapper way of dressing and their lack of care for him, but he cannot stand the fact that his sons are ashamed of Jewish religion and consider Jewish lifestyle inferior to American one. “Shadrach was red in the face with suppressed rage.” (48) He suddenly acts tough and scolds his sons, making “Gottlieb dumbfounded” (48) because “he had not heard that tone since he was a little boy”. (48) So we can see that religious belief is of great importance to Shadrach, almost his foremost principle, since he would rather risk his relationship with his sons than give in when it comes to his religious belief.

There are many places in the story that demonstrate the fact that Jewish religion has already been fused into Shadrach Cohen’s life, which can first be seen from the way he dresses. He “wore a gabardine—the loose, baglike garment of the Russian Ghetto—and had a long, straggling grey beard and ringlets that came down over his ears”. (46) This is a fine specimen of Jewish way of dressing, and it at once defines his ethnic traits. Except for dressing, Shadrach’s table manners also reveal his identity as the disciple of Judaism. “When the meal was over Shadrach donned his praying cap and began to recite the grace after meals.” (46) Abel and Gottlieb’s “consternation” (46) at having to “go through this at every meal” (46) indirectly reveals that this has become a most natural practice of Shadrach Cohen. The strongest proof may come from what Shadrach says to a young man in his store. “Young man, whenever you address a person who is older than you, do it respectfully. Honor your father and your mother.” (49) Do you doubt Shadrach’s loyalty to Judaism when one of the Ten Commandments pops out of his mouth without much thinking?

Now that religion plays such an important role in Shadrach’s life, what influences does it have on him?

In the first place, it has shaped his point of view as well as his character. There is little doubt that the United States is much more powerful and influential than Shadrach’s homeland. But the worship of Jehovah makes Shadrach believe that Americans and Jewish are on the equal status because “that same Jehovah rules supreme over America even as He does over the country that you came from”. (47) This belief keeps him from feeling inferior and infuses him with confidence. Therefore, when Shadrach’s sons try to persuade him to shave his beard in order not to appear like the newly landed Russian Jews, he counters with a resolute tone: “Then I will keep my beard as it is. I am a newly landed Russian Jew.” (46) What a powerful answer! It arouses others’ respect for him immediately.

Shadrach’s self-respect as well as self-confidence brought mainly by religion enables him to do well in his business. Some may argue that the Americanization of Shadrach contributes more to his success than religion does. True, Shadrach is affected by the American culture to some extent. “The charm of American life, of liberty, of democracy, appealed to him strongly.” (50) He is deeply attracted by the best parts of American culture, which in turn changes his character in some respects. “He became broader-minded, more tolerant, and, above all, more flexible in his tenets.” (50) It certainly helps him do business with American businessmen. However, the realm of business is by no means a place for fun. Shadrach is bound to experience some hard time. Then here comes the religion, the thing that gives him comfort and power spiritually:

When life is light and free from care, religion is quick to fly; but when the sky grows dark and life becomes earnest, and we feel its burden growing heavy upon our shoulders, then we welcome the consolation that religion brings, and we cling to it. (50)

This statement confirms that religion is Shadrach’s strongest backup, his source of power and his reason to persist. It is religion that assists him to make his way in the realm of business in an unfamiliar country.

Shadrach’s personality has won the respect of many businessmen. What’s more, his sons’ attitude towards him has gradually changed. At first, the change originates from Shadrach’s ability to do business. When his sons realize the prosperity of their business under the charge of their father, they “became proud of their father”. (50) And when they notice the deference shown to their father by some American businessmen, “their admiration for their father increased”. (50) This gradually leads to their “implicit obedience and profound respect” (50) towards Shadrach.

Now the opportunity for Shadrach to educate his sons has come. He, a kind and loving father in the core, teaches his sons how to earn their own living, which produces good result because Abel and Gottlieb have learned many things. “They learned the value of discipline, learned the beauty of filial reverence, learned the severe joy of the earnest life.” (50) The tenets of Jewish religion have been successfully instilled to the minds of the sons. Religion triumphs in this sense.

The climax of the story arrives after Gottlieb suggests bringing Miriam, his future bride, to have supper with the family. What a contrast to his former attitude towards this matter! And Miriam’s reaction when seeing Shadrach displays a sharper contrast:

The girl looked in surprise at the venerable figure that stood before her—a picture of a patriarch from the Pentateuch, with a long, straggling beard, and ringlets of hair falling over the ears, and clad in the long gabardine of the Russian Ghettos…Impulsively she ran toward him and seized his hands. And, with a smile upon her lips, she said: “Will you not give me your blessing?” (51)

Miriam’s behavior is totally the opposite of Gottlieb’s guess. She is absolutely amazed by the image of Shadrach. Most dramatic of all, it is Shadrach’s resemblance to a patriarch from the Pentateuch that arouses Miriam’s reverence. The word “impulsive” is worth our attention. It means that an action is undertaken without careful thought, which vividly describes the excitement of Miriam at that time and strongly demonstrates the power of religion.

At the end of the story, Shadrach intones the grace after meals as usual. But this time he has company. When Gottlieb responds to the grace in a fervent tone, the story reaches its most touching point. For Shadrach, he successfully wins back his sons’ respect and enhances it to a higher level. As for the Jewish religion, it successfully inspires another young man with its profound beauty. “Blessed be He!” The blessing draws the story to a close, leaving the readers in deep reflection.

Throughout the story, we see how the protagonist, Shadrach Cohen, succeeds in both his career and interpersonal relations by clinging to his religious belief. Although Americanization has its contribution, and the title of the story also suggests its importance, religion actually plays a much more significant role. The way Shadrach shows pride in his ethnic traits, his religion and his culture is indeed thought provoking. When so many immigrants are at a loss how to survive in a new environment, Shadrach Cohen’s deeds are worth advocating and are qualified as a good example for the immigrants.

25.5.07 17:13