Generational Differences in Yezierska’s Bread Givers Anzia Yezierska’s most-taught novel, Bread Givers, "is an extensive observation of relationships in an immigrant family of early 20th century America" (Sample 1). Noticeably, one of the most fascinating qualities of Yezierska’s work is that, though most readers probably come from significantly different backgrounds than that of her characters, she writes in a manner that allows her stories to be discussed in contemporary terms, (Drucker
riches and rags, juxtaposing the two jarring lifestyles to a key. A novel by Anzia Yezierska, Bread Givers, shows that divide through a narration of daily living from a Jewish immigrant family who not only struggles for their prosperity, but also finding a place in an American society without truly feeling American at first. Yerierska, a Jewish-novelist, depicts flashes of her childhood through her fictional world of Bread Givers, which was published in 1925 only to be buried in time itself to resonate
of the Tenements,” Anzia Yezierska (est.1880-1970) is best known for writing about Jewish immigrants, specifically women, and the challenges they faced assimilating to life in the United States. An immigrant herself, Yezierska and her family moved to the United States to escape Eastern Europe’s poverty, and rising antisemitic attitudes. She ultimately chose a career in writing, and published several short stories and novels (Kent 144). Yezierska’s most popular novel Bread Givers, published in 1925
Ellis Island, and America and I The American dream is as varied as the people who populate America. The play The Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller, the poem "Ellis Island" by Joseph Bruchac, and the poem "America and I" by Anzia Yezierska illustrate different perspectives of the American dream. All three authors show some lines of thought on what the freedom inherent in the American dream means. The authors clarify distinct ideas on the means to achieving the American dream
Anzia Yezerskia’s Bread Givers (1925) Anzia Yezierska's "Bread Givers" offers a poignant portrayal of the challenges and transformations experienced by women in the early twentieth century. The novel delves into the struggles of Sara Smolinsky as she navigates the complexities of womanhood, identity, and societal expectations. When her family immigrated from Poland to New York, they were pressured to immerse themselves in the American culture. There was a battle between tradition and modernity, which
society organizes us in; it is a feeling impartial to race, gender, or class. Anzia Yezierska, a Jewish immigrant from Poland, dealt with issues ranging from extreme poverty to the guilt she felt for abandoning tradition. In her book “Bread Givers” she exemplifies what she went through when she writes: “It wasn’t just my father, but the generations who made my father whose weight was still upon me” (297). Similarly to what Yezierska felt growing up, the main character and narrator, Sara Smolinsky, expresses
in America, when women began to actually make social and political advancements in the early 20th century, their newfound liberty exceeded the independence that women of Old World cultures received and this if evident in the book Breadgivers Anna Yezierska. In the early half of the 20th century, a women's role in America was not only controlled by the society, but it was also profoundly defined by her culture. In Breadgivers, the daughter of Jewish immigrants must battle with
In Anzia Yezierska's Bread Givers of 1952, a family of immigrant parents living in poverty in the ghetto of New York City struggles to survive. Yezierska’s use of simile and hyperbole emphasize the fact that women's role in life is deteriorated by men. For so long, women have gotten the stereotype that they are only worthy of cooking and cleaning and are treated poorly by men. Unfortunately, Sarah begins to feel as if she is the only one who wants to be treated equally and stand up for themselves
and examine more specifically the powerful role of the patriarchal father within Anzia Yezierska's book Bread Givers and Barry Levinson's film Avalon. Yezierska's theme vividly depicts the constraint of a patriarchal world, while Levinson illustrates the process of assimilation and the immigrant, now American, family and its decline. In this
Bread Givers Bread Givers tells the story of Sara Smolinsky, whose life is almost the same as Anzia Yezierska, who is the author. Through Sara we see the collapse of a family because of religion and old world ways. Sara tries so hard to get away from her past but in the end it shows that your family will always be there, for good or bad. Sara Smolinsky is the youngest of four sisters; the eldest is Bessie, whom everyone calls the “Burden-bearer” because the whole family lives on her pay check. “I