Essay Draft Three

June 22, 2007

Is Shadrach Cohen Americanized?

In the late 19^th century many Jews in the ghettos of Russia fled to America with little money, and they had to struggle to survive. The story of “The Americanization of Shadrach Cohen” by Bruno Lessing was written during this period of time. In the story, the father of the family, Shadrach Cohen, moves to America five years after his two sons, Abel and Gottlieb, leave for America. The father and sons have conflicts in the first few months of Shadrach’s arrival, since their habits and attitude towards Judaism have become so different that they cannot understand, or are reluctant to accept, each other’s way of life. But Shadrach gradually gains respect from his sons. The author titles the story to demonstrate how the conflict of this family is resolved. However, further analysis challenges the title of the story – Shadrach is not actually Americanized.

When Shadrach first arrives in America, he is greeted by his two sons the moment the ship docks. From that time on Shadrach encounters a number of differences between his sons and himself. He cannot even recognize Abel and Gottlieb at first, and their “effusive greeting” (46) is also not what he expects either. Furthermore, Abel soon points out that prayer at meals is not quite American so they omit it. Great changes have occurred! The two young men were deeply influenced by the Americans around them during those five years, while Shadrach was staying in his own country and keeping to his old ways. Abel and Gottlieb at times urge Shadrach to go to a barber, but Shadrach persists in his old ways and customs, and never has the slightest thought of trimming his beard or leaving out the prayer. Shadrach’s insistence on keeping to his old ways gives rise to the conflict between his sons and himself. The problem is eventually solved, but not because Shadrach changed his original way of life. At the very end of the story, the description of Shadrach is exactly the same as that in the beginning, with his “long, straggling beard” (51) and a daily prayer. In this aspect, Shadrach is not Americanized in appearance or behavior, and he has his reasons for this.

Shadrach is a persistent person. He has his own way of life, and no matter how eager Abel and Gottlieb are to try to persuade him to make even the slightest change, his strong inner conviction always makes him stick to the original. His response is always strong: “I am a newly arrived Russian Jew” or “it is wrong to omit the prayer” (47). To Shadrach, it is alright to demonstrate uniqueness in this foreign country; keeping a ringlet or praying is never considered a problem. To him, it is not necessary to give up old habits as long as they are proper and do not interfere with the daily life of others. Above all, it is his religion. He holds to his belief in Judaism with unshakeable faith that “the religion is the worship of Jehovah, who has chosen us as His children on earth” (47). He wears a beard, and others naturally recognize him as the Russian Jew that he is. It is Shadrach’s identity, which he firmly maintains at all times. He admits that “religion is quick to fly” (50) when life is easy and carefree, but it is to be firmly held when life is hard, since religion brings people consolation. In Shadrach’s mind, life is always about being earnest; people should earn their life “by the sweat of their brow” (50). Based on this perspective of life and religion, there is no doubt that Shadrach would never do what is not in accord with his religion.

However, as his business begins to prosper, his increasing involvement in this new life gives him the chance to peer into the American culture, and it leads to his changes in opinion – he becomes “broader-minded, more tolerant, and…more flexible in his tenet” (50). These are good things to learn; being in a new environment, change is unavoidable, and the “faculty of adaptability” (50) is also needed. After all, he is doing business with those American people; he should cater to American tastes in order to enlarge his social circle, make profits and for his business to prosper. But before these changes, Shadrach already has “the true money-maker spirit” (50), and the rich experiences and rules that he already gained from previous business endow “some instinct” (50) to guide him to the right path through success. Being an outstanding business man, learning from experience is welcome and admirable. We can imagine that from the first time Shadrach stepped into the business world, there would be a lot to learn, like how to deal with other people of various characteristics, or what to do under such and such circumstances. The process of learning is the path to grow, to mature, gain experiences, and, consequently, to achieve success. Also, principles are constantly formed and accumulated from numerous issues he confronted before and is confronting now, thus it leads Shadrach to be a man of principle. One should not stop learning at any time. Every time Shadrach learns certain keys to success, he applies them to the next battle of business or life issue. In America, he experiences the new and fresh, and learns a lot that is beneficial for him.

By these comparatives, “broader” or “more” (50), the author indicates what Shadrach was like primarily — broad-minded, tolerant, and flexible in his tenets. Moreover, from the first half of the story, it can be gathered from the way he acts that these were the qualities he possessed.  

Though distressed and puzzled about the differences between him and the sons and the latter’s desire for him to change – telling him to go and have a change of appearance or that prayer at meals is not quite American to the point of annoyance – Shadrach never loses his temper. At such moments he keeps his lips “shut tightly” (46), and just “[goes] on with his prayer” (47), or “[listens] patiently” (47). Shadrach has a tolerant attitude towards Abel and Gottlieb’s opinion, even though in certain instances his religious beliefs are being undermined by his sons. This family relationship is what he treasures the most. When faced with issues in other valuable relationships with people, he will equally show his tolerance to maintain the relationships.

Yet he is not tolerant to everyone. When met by that impatient clerk in his store, who speaks to him “in a sharp tone” (49), he perceives with his shrewdness that this man is not worth hiring in his store. He has not the least tolerance to this unqualified clerk and drives him away. It shows Shadrach’s variance in his tolerance.

The change of being “more” is not a fundamental change, but enrichment and enhancement of his character.

“The faculty of adaptability” (50) is what Shadrach has gained through interacting with the American business men. However, this does not prove that he is Americanized. Adaptability does not signify that he has been assimilated to become more American. Adaptability is an essential requirement when immigrating to a foreign country with a totally different culture.

What Shadrach learns in America and the changes he undergoes benefits him a lot. However, these changes cannot be called Americanization. To this proud and persevering Russian Jew, he can never allow himself to be Americanized. Though there are evolutions and enhancements, it is “the same Shadrach Cohen” (50). The most distinctive features that set him apart from Americans are by no means diminished. He rigidly carries on his old way of life, while what he acquires in America enriches and strengthens his lifelong principles.

Lessing, Bruno. “The Americanization of Shadrach Cohen.” 1903. Rpt. in The International Story: An Anthology with Guidelines for Reading and Writing about Fiction. Ruth Spack. New York: St. Martin’s, 1994. 45-51.

26.5.07 04:29