Essay Draft Three
The true essence of Americanization
The Americanization of Shadrach Cohen written by Bruno Lessing tells of the unexpected clash of cultural and religious values between Cohen, a newly arrived zealous Russian-Jewish immigrant in New York City and his two “Americanized” sons, Abel and Gottlieb. In the beginning the boys had denied their cultural heritage and wholly embraced American culture, but are transformed when they finally realize their father’s wisdom and ability to adapt his Jewish religious values to American Values, yet not adopt them as his own. Lessing uncovers the true essence of Americanization by displaying conflicts that resulted from the intersection of cultures, compromises adopted by Shadrach Cohen and his sons, and the life lessons learned.
Cohen’s tenacious attachment to Jewish tradition and his sons’ disdainfulness toward that attitude only widened the original existing gap caused by differences of moral, religious and cultural values which eventually leads to a breakdown. Cohen is ridiculed by his two sons not only because of his typical dressing style of Russian immigrant: a loose, baglike garment of the ghetto and grey bear and the ringlets that came down over the ears; but also the Jewish habit of going through the grace after meals. After five years of living in America, the boys had been assimilated a great deal into so called “American” lifestyle and its’ society, which they were proud of, and had omitted the religious and traditional aspect of their own heritages’ identity.
“To their chagrin, however, they began to realize, after a few months, that their father was clinging to the habits and customs of his old life with a tenacity that filled them with despair. The more they urged him to abandon his ways the more eager he seemed to become to cling to them” (p.47)
While Abel and Gottlieb held the opinion at the beginning that their father would voluntarily become more integrated into the new society after a period of adaptation, they found his stubborn demanding attitude unchangeable. Without reproach or directly expresses his thoughts, Cohen would remain silent to any remarks made by his sons such as “let us fix you up a bit; learn to speak English; wear your beard shorter and trimmed differently” (48)By not losing his temper, and by the gleam in Marta’s eyes, a maid he brought from Russia, he seemed to observe a certain degree of nervousness and uneasiness while remaining ambiguous. The quote stands out perfectly “There is no set rule for the turning of the worm; most worms, however, turn unexpectedly.”（p47） The consequence of his two sons’ disdainful attitude to forget their old practices and former identity and Cohen’s very tenacious attitude toward his old identity by subconsciously refusing to change is where the break down occurs.
Cohen, after struggling between his moral standard and giving his beloved sons a life lesson, became “the worm” and eventually turned, unexpectedly. The final straw was Gottlieb’s refusal bizarre behavior Cohen might display would ruin everything. That event fastened the determination of Cohen, to figure out a solution to deal with his current problems. Cohen interfered with his sons’ business, which he claimed to know nothing of, by extending working hours and shifting their focus toward better service and attitude. He also reminded his sons of their obligation to the tenets of their religion including those that state that parents must be treated with obedience and respect. To their amazement, business began to prosper when clients viewed the newfound respect they paid their father. The also came to realize the important function of religion serving as a unique and peaceful consolation to their souls. The two sons expressed their increasing appreciation to religion, the value of discipline, the beauty of filial reverence, and the severe joy of the earnest life. What is more, through contacts with American clients, Cohen also underwent profound changes by becoming more broader-minded, more tolerance and more flexible in his tenets. He also began to find the idea of liberty, democracy, and the faculty to adapt more appealing. Changes brought after the “turn of this worm” appear unexpectedly and were considerably different.
By the dissatisfaction of attitudes shown at the beginning, the reconciliation and assimilation of the distinction between main religions and cultures and lastly the life lessons learned, the author shows the reader that the true essence of Americanization lies within ones’ spirit, character and hopes (such as the “American dream". ) Adapting to the current environment doesn’t necessarily mean a contemptuous attitude toward the original, as is the original case of Cohen. The ability to adjust to a new environment while maintaining your own cultural virtues proves to be the true essence of Americanization.
By the dissatisfaction of attitudes shown at the beginning, the reconciliation and assimilation of the distinction between main religions and cultures and lastly the life lessons learned, the author shows the reader that the true essence of Americanization lies within ones’ spirit, character and hopes (such as the “American dream". ) Adapting to the current environment doesn’t necessarily mean a contemptuous attitude toward the original, as is the original case of Cohen. The ability to adjust to a new environment while maintaining your own cultural virtues proves to be the true essence of Americanization.