In the short story, “A Ghetto Wedding,” written by Abraham Cahan, the readers are introduced to the lives of Goldy and Nathan, a poor Jewish couple that struggles with economic hardship and financing their upcoming wedding. As the story opens, readers are witnessing Nathan singing and working hard on the streets as a peddler, in hopes of gaining extra cash for the wedding that Goldy desperately desires. However, her dream of a wedding is not one rooted in pure joy and innocence, as one gets an insight into her character. When Goldy unexpectedly meets Nathan while he is peddling, she envisions him being the only peddler on the street, and further says, “wouldn’t you [Nathan] make heaps of money then?” (Cahan, 281). This specific quote automatically …show more content…
shows how materialistic Goldy is, and that her greatest romanticization is not of a joyful union, but rather of the monetary gain that Nathan can bring to her life. This characterization of Goldy is even furthered on the following page, when she insists that they spend all of their money “on a grand, respectable wedding,” and shares her hope that “God give...a lump of good luck as big as the wedding presents” (Cahan, 282). Not only does this show how selfish and overreaching Goldy is, but also represents how naive she is to assume that her guests will be financially able to contribute furniture and lavish things to her and Nathan’s future home. Despite the initial lack of growth in Goldy’s character, as the short story progresses and the wedding arrives, she begins to develop and learn lessons about the reality of the lackluster ceremony that has fallen upon her.
In fact, Cahan provides insight into this briefly, by mentioning that it was “an open secret” that many of Goldy’s guests could not attend the wedding due to “a period of hard times” (Cahan, 285). Therefore, illustrating that the economic hardship was not reserved just to the couple, but for the entire body of guests invited; thus, Cahan provides the opportunity for the character of Goldy to take these realizations and grow emotionally as a character. Most importantly, Goldy begins to realize the lack of joy that permeates throughout the evening by stating during her dinner that “everything is lost,” and when she states that she is the one “to blame for it all,” readers begin to realize that she is taking accountability for the foolishness of her material-driven ideals given the circumstances (Cahan, 287). In other words, Goldy now demonstrates a sense of emotional growth by knowing that all of the consequences to follow, such as a lack of furnishings and such, are all rooted from her unrealistic
imagination. Finally, Cahan gives readers textual clues that Goldy also grows ethically when it comes to the view she has of Nathan. For example, there is a scene at the end of the story in which there are several loiterers who throw things at Goldy as her and Nathan are walking home, and Nathan tries to defend her (Cahan, 288). As Goldy restrains Nathan and moves closer to him, Cahan describes that the couple were filled with a “blissful oneness” and that Goldy begins to feel that the “miserable failure of the wedding” was no longer as important to her as she now treats has Nathan guiding her along the way (Cahan, 289). Ergo, Goldy not grows emotionally in the sense of taking accountability for her foolishness, but also begins to properly treat her husband based on his value as a person, and not as a monetary asset.
Golding shows how children all on their own, can change their own brains to function the way they choose with no one telling them what to do. He as well explains the impact of less clothing has on society, which causes civilization to diminish from where they lay. Likewise, Cady changes the way she dresses from being fully covered with dignity and respect to exposing body parts and changing her way of thinking. However, in the end, both authors reveal symbolism and setting through teenagers and children. Parents should be most cautious about teenagers because they seem to be the main reason why society corrupts and destroys itself, which leads future generations at risk of becoming even
Here, Alyss learned that she would need to live up to the real world responsibilities that people have to live up to everyday. Once in England, she was staying with a family that constantly tormented her about her claims of living in Wonderland, which caused her to lose faith in the place where she grew up and had to treat her beliefs and childhood as if they did not exist in order to live a normal life. Alyss even said, “Yes, it was a solution… Become just like everyone else.” (148) She began to accept the life of a normal girl and took on responsibilities like getting married. “If she’d had time to think about it, Alice might have stopped herself, considering the idea too whimsical. But the words had a force of their own, and only after she said them aloud did she realize just how appropriate the idea was. ‘Let’s have a masquerade.’” (172) At this point in time, Alyss Heart, or Alice Liddell, had just begun to take on the responsibility that any young adult would take at her
Adam provided land and a home for Cathy, believing that she would be happy with him. However, that wasn’t the case. Cathy considered her marriage with Adam as an “accident” and plans “not going to stay here [Salinas Valley]” (Steinbeck 157; 173). Cathy’s original ambitions were “protection and rest”, her “money was gone”, and she needed shelter; therefore, leaning towards Adam being the only man who was able to provide that for her (Steinbeck 117). On the other hand, Daisy desired money from Gatsby as she is described with a voice “full of money” (Fitzgerald 120). Including her depiction has the girl dressed in white in a “white palace” like royalty (Donaldson). Because of these intentions that their interests had and their failure to see the truth underneath their fantasies, it leaded to their different…not-so-happy
However, Amory spins into a deep depression after Rosalind refuses to marry him due to his current financial state, and instead goes off to be with another guy whom she soon marries instead. The breakup with Rosalind nearly killed Amory, causing him to quit his job and become a huge alcoholic for the next year or so. He soon takes a trip to Maryland to visit an uncle of his, and has a short romance with a girl named Eleanor. Although he has some feeling for her, he knows no girl will make him feel as he did for Rosalind. After returning to New York, Amory soon learns about Rosalind’s plan to marry some high-roller, causing Amory to fall back into his spiral of self-destruction. Without a source of money, nothing comes easy to anyone, and a determined Amory attempts to dig deeper for the meaning of life without love. He no longer sees women as a source of motivation, and he tries to discover who he really is without the help of Rosalind. He says that “It is not life that’s complicated, it’s the struggle to guide and control life,” which shows his urge to find a sense of direction in his life, as well as contributes to him learning who he really is (256). Once he gives up conformity, love and wealth, Amory finally is able to see his selfishness and enters an extremely deep discovery, which allows him to begin understanding himself as a person. At the end, he declares, “I know myself, but that is all-,” which would indicate that Amory knows nothing but himself and who he is, and that knowledge is far more valuable than anything else he has ever wanted in his entire life
Adam provided land and a home for Cathy, believing that she would be happy with him. However, that wasn’t the case. Cathy considered her marriage with Adam as an “accident” and plans “not going to stay here [Salinas Valley]” (Steinbeck 157; 173). Cathy’s original ambitions were “protection and rest”, her “money was gone”, and she needed shelter; therefore, leaning towards Adam being the only man who was able to provide that for her (Steinbeck 117). On the other hand, Daisy desired money from Gatsby as she is described with a voice “full of money” (Fitzgerald 120). Including her depiction has the girl dressed in white in a “white palace” like royalty (Donaldson). Because of these intentions that their interests had and their failure to see the truth underneath their fantasies, it led to their different…not-so-happy
Even though Gatsby manipulated his entire world around the hope of being with Daisy, it was a lost love from the start that Gatsby failed to grasp which is why he was never successful. Ever since Gatsby had left Daisy during the war, it led her to finding a new partner to fall in love with and settle down, and by the time Gatsby returned, it was too late. When Gatsby and Daisy finally meet five years later, he knocks over a clock, “where he turned and caught it with trembling fingers and set it back in place.” (Fitzgerald 86). It signifies how Gatsby is living in the past, by wanting to stop time, as well as his inability to do so. While he thought he could obtain a high status and wealth to reach Daisy’s level, his “new money” would never be equal to Daisy’s “old money”, a misconception which ultimately lead Gatsby to his demise. Janie explores a less literal meaning of being rich in love, in that money was never used to obtain her desires. In actuality, it was the wealthiness of others that turned Janie away from them because it meant their love would be afterthought than actual pure, essential love. Unlike Gatsby, Janie was able to realize when the love in her marriage was failing due to the little effort put in or its nonexistence from the start. She learnt from her failed experiences what she
feelings as he did not want to love or marry a woman who was beneath
His only realization of himself was that “his own weaknesses [were] the result of circumstances and environment” (Fitzgerald 242). He let his strongest emotions, love and hate, act as his conscience for life. Amory knew he could never be content until he uncovered the missing piece in his life. Amory ponders the world around him and his cynical attitude toward the social class, he was ironically born into. He sees the world through a completely new perspective influencing the rest of his life. At this point, Amory finds himself in a long car ride with a few men from the upper class discussing the largest world issues. Readers can examine the changes Amory has undergone through his tone as he speaks to the two men. No longer is Amory unsure of himself or his opinions, building great self-confidence as his conceit slowly
First published in a collection of short stories in 1896, The Imported Bridegroom by Abraham Cahan illustrates life for Jewish immigrants living in New York City during the late nineteenth century. The main character, Asriel Stroon, is the narrator of the story. As an retired businessman and widower, Stroon has shifted focus in life from his business to his family and faith. He begins his new start in life by reinvigorating his faith, and to do this he takes a pilgrimage to his homeland of Pravly. Through this experience one can see the not only how Stroon as has changed but how the trip changes him. Asriel Stroon pilgrimage to his homeland of Pravly changed his identity as a New York Jew and how he views life as a Jewish immigrant.
...ngagement, their re-engagement. Cecily is not the natural country girl. She possesses the self-assurance of the experienced woman. Without being cynical she makes her desires clear. And when Gwendolen and Cecily discover that their Earnests are impostors whose names are Jack and Algernon they decide that love can be restored only if Jack and Algy christen themselves Earnest.
‘Now I’ve lost her forever’”(84), her actions such as “tears welling up” creates a melancholic tone in the book. Readers are able to make connections to Adeline’s thoughts and the common situation
Assignment #1: Attending an African American Wedding Weddings are an occasion of great celebration. Expectations do vary greatly, depending on culture, tradition and environment. I received a wedding invitation from an African American co-worker several weeks ago. My initial thought was not to attend the wedding, which I did not RSVP or inform her that I would not be attending. I did, however, send her a card and expressed my congratulations to her.
It was a beautiful Saturday morning on January 6. The winter air was crisp and the view was amazing. The soft salty scent from the ocean filled the air. Off the balcony on the second story of the Long Beach Yacht Club I could see the light swells of the Pacific Ocean. The small crashing of waves added to the peaceful instrumental background sounds as the ceremony was about to begin. January 6, my wedding date, was a day that changed the rest of my life.
The concept of odor is also explained as a hint for a sin: "Sin has a putrid smell, virtue exhales sweet odours." (Origen 269). It is possible to consider the concept of 'odor' even in broader terms, when it integrates the ideas of "the spiritual sense of Scripture." (Origen 270). Dominance of the bride's words is relevant, because if we hear what she says, we can understand what she hears. This shows a spiritual interconnectedness of the plot in the Song of Songs between Christianity and mysticism. The Bride and the Bridegroom are two basic pillars in this book. Origen talks about a 'spiritual embrace', which wraps the readers with its divine nature. Desires of the Bride and Bridegroom are not persistent. They convey their ideas slowly and tenderly with love and worship: "Let him kiss me" rather than "O that He would kiss!" Thus, the readers can sense a power of the spiritual love to God.
Almost every culture around the world have the idea of bringing together households in marriage. In the United States, this a coupling of two people who will start a life on their own. In India, a marriage is more than two people falling and love and getting married. Family, religion and casts play a role for the future bride and groom. The Indian culture’s weddings have different traditions when it comes to proposals, ring traditions and ceremonies not only for the couple but for the families as well.