"Bread Givers"

Book Review # 116723

English > Analysis
Literature > American
Religion and Theology > Judaism

"Bread Givers"

An analysis of the patriarchy conflicts in Anzia Yezierska's novel "Bread Givers".

1,945 words () | 0 sources | 2009 United States

Paper Summary:

This paper explores the relationship between Sara Smolinsky and her father in Anzia Yezierska's novel "Bread Givers". The paper relates the traditional views of the family structure in the Jewish home and illustrates how in this book, the actions of the father are themed after an intense culture clash of tradition against progress. The paper discusses how Sara's father would have been best represented as a sympathetic character if the history of his upbringing had been focused upon with more detail. The paper contends that the book is biased in its writing style and point of view by being exclusive to anything but Sara's struggle and her fight for independence and identity. The paper points out, however, that if the father figure were more caring, less degrading and controlling then Sara would not have been the dynamic character Yezierska had intended.

From the Paper:

"Sara's father in the novel is the epitome of the over-bearing father. He insists on marrying her three sisters off, not to men whom have shown keen interest in them, but to suitors that he alone has chosen. In this fashion he controls his family, his family's affairs, and through this action makes it clear that he is the alpha male. The patriarchy presented in the novel is of great consequence to the actions of Sara. She wants to be rid of the old way of life and become Americanized, but the father, despite Sara coming back after finishing school and earning a degree only complains, "She's only good to the world, not to her father. Will she hand me her wages from school as a dutiful daughter should?" Thus, there is no reconciliation found in the novel between daughter and father, and this is the theme throughout the entire novel."