Tevya's Oldest Daughter example essay topic

The musical called "Fiddler on the Roof" was set in Anatefka, Russia around 1880-1900. During this time, in this small town, held Tevya and his family. Tevya, husband and father of five daughters, is a cynical, obstinate, determined, yet sensitive to feelings, and caring man. He isa clever philosopher and sticks very much to tradition. In the story Tevya says "Anatefka is our home... to keep in balance by tradition... ".

This explains the title which is personally understood that throughTevya's eyes, without tradition, life would be as a fiddler on a roof, unbalanced. This story, demonstrates the precarious lives of the Russian Jews of the late 19th century. The main character, Tevya, compares their lives to that of a fiddler on a roof with only traditions helping them keep their balance. However, throughout the story, Tevya is forced time and again to face and break traditions. Tzeitle, Tevya's oldest daughter was supposedly to be prepared a husband by her parents with the help of Yenta (the old gossip woman who also makes matches). Tzeitle's parents agree with the match-making to Lazar Wolf the rich old butler.

The problem is that Tzeitle is in love with Mottle, the poor tailor and pledged each other they would marry. The bigger conflict appears when Tevya finds out and also after he told Lazar Wolf he could marry his daughter. Tevya, after having a nightmare with Lazar Wolf's ex-wife, threatening to killTzeitle if she marries Lazar, and after realizing the true feelings of his daughter, Tevya broke the tradition. The second oldest daughter, Hotel, goes through a similar route as her older sister Tzeitle. The only main difference was that Homeland her fianc'e didn't expect permission. They wanted Tevya's blessings.

Tevya, puzzled, upset, and surprised, begins to slowly accept after thinking of the pros and cons. When Tevya does accept, he tells his wife and runs as if not to get scolded. The third eldest daughter Chav a had a guy in mind also. The only problem was that this guy Fyedka was a Russian Gentile, not a Jew. When Tevya noticed that, he could definitely not have that a tall. Tevya at first would not give them his blessing, which would break too much tradition, in Tevya eyes at that time he only saw four daughters.

In the end of the musical, the whole village was forced to leave by the Cossacks at the Tears command. Things still went well with the family leaving because they were leaving to begin a new life in America with hope. Tevya was eventually reconciled the fact that there was nothing wrong with a marriage that wasn't "arranged" by the families and also outside religion. Throughout the story, the concept of changing times is brought up. Tevya accepts that times and traditions are changing, his daughters are grown up and in love, and he accepts the marriages which shows the first step of accepting these changes. As the Tevya says, with everybody knowing their place in the order of life, they are allowed to scratch out a living balancing like a fiddler on a roof.