The German Refugee

"Life is a tragedy full of
joy."

Bernard Malamud: Novelist, Writer, Immigrant

"He never forgets that he is an American Jew, and he is at his best when posing the situation of a Jew in urban American society." (Anthony Burgess)

"If you live, you suffer. Some people suffer more, but not because they want. But I think if a Jew don't suffer for the Law, he will suffer for nothing." "What do you suffer for, Morris?" Frank said. "I suffer for you," Morris said calmly. ("The Assistant," Bernard Malamud)

“THE TENANTS is based on the novel by Bernard Malamud. It is the story of a Jewish novelist, Harry Lesser, struggling to complete his latest work, and his antagonistic relationship with a black writer who moves in down the hall.” This video caught my eye, because it was written by Malamud, who wrote “The German Refugee” and because it stars Snoop Dogg!


Biographical information:

Bernard Malamud was born in New York to Russian immigrant parents. He is considered the most important writers of Jewish-American literature. He is most famous, however, for the film adaptation of his novel “The Natural,” which starred Robert Redford. Malamud's stories, like The German Refugee, are a mixture of many styles. He combines tragedy and comedy, and reality and fantasy. Mostly, his work has a moral focus, where the characters often suffer until they understand their heavy moral responsibility as human beings. Malamud uses Jewish people, symbols and events to illustrate his themes of “sin, suffering, and redemption.” (Encyclopedia of World Biography 2007) His characters are strange and awkward, living alone and sad. The plots may seem simple, focusing on unimportant events and painful obstacles. However, it is how these characters fight to survive, in the face of these obstacles, that Malamud teaches the reader about the importanceof living correctly and how to be human in the face of sin.

Summary:

The title character of The German Refugee is Oskar, a Jewish journalist who has escaped the Nazi’s in 1938. Oskar is Jewish and also German, and that is the central conflict, of the many that he faces, in this sad short story. Oskar may be Jewish, but speaks, writes and thinks in German, a language and culture that he now hates. This hatred creates obstacles for Oskar, as he tries to re-start his life in New York City. The story centers around Oskar’s relationship with his tutor. Oskar must deliver a speech about German literature, but he cannot becuase he hates all things German, yet he does not feel comfort with English. The story follows Oskar as he overcomes his fear of the presentation, and finally feels that has left the isolation and self-hatred of being the German Refugee. Throughout the lessons of tutoring, the tutor learns of Oskar's past, specifically his wife, whom he felt never loved him, becuase he thought her anti-Semitic. The story's climax is not the moment when Oskar delivers his speech. After his success, the tutor finds his dead from suicide, shocked and confused that after his struggle and success, oskar would kill himself. After reviewing Oskar's papers, which Oskar left to the tutor along with all his worldly possessions, is a letter from his mother-in-law: after Oskar left his wife, she converted to Judaism to maintain a connection with the husband who left her. When the Nazi's arrived to the house, Oskar's wife was taken and shot dead; her body was dumped in a mass grave.....

Questions:

1. Is there more than guilt as the reason to Oskar's suicide?

2. How come he didn't find out about his wife converting to Judaism until after he committed suicide?

3. If Oskar would've known about what his wife did for him....would the story end any differently?

Themes:

Isolation

Isolation is very common post war fiction. Imagine moving into a new country and leaving your wife and cutlrue behind? Oskar arrived a the United States forgetting the language the culture or knowing any of the culture. Oskar was so isolated in his own little world - not an American and hating his German-ness - that he thought about suicide in the begining of the story. He overcomes the isolation only to commit suicide at the end of the story, after learning of his wife's murder.

Struggle / Renewel

The struggle of renewel in a new country occurs all the time through out the story. When Oskar arrived in the US he had to give a lecture at a University but he had no clue how to speak English. Oskar had to struggle to learn how to speak the common language. Anther example of struggling in a new country would be adjusting to the culture. Struggling in a new country also relates to the theme of love. Imagine never seeing your own wife ever again, and not knowing what in the world is going on with her?

Anti- Semitism

Anti-Semitism is found all over the story. An example of Anti-Semitism would be when the Nazi Germany began to exterminate the Jews, and Oskar had to leave his home town and come to the United States in order to live a new life without being persecuted for hisreligioun. Another example of Anti-Semitsm is when Oskar's wife converts to Judaism in order to stay with her own husband but is killed by the Nazi's, soon after he leaves her.

Unconditional Love

Unconditional love is expressed in the story through the German's wife. At the end of the story, she converts to Judaism in order to stay connected with her husband. Although he left her, believing the worst of her because she was German, his error is grave. The Nazi's came and killed her for being Jewish.


Readers Response

This story tells discusses the struggles people go through with love, anit-semitism, isolation, renewal, and moral responsibilities. This story is like a sad parable: where the characters, the tutor, Oskar and his wife learn their moral responsibilties - but all too late. The German refugee symbolizes all people who suffer and must overcome their pain and isolation. The final lesson seems shocking and unfair but a reminder that we must remain faithful to those who love us, no matter how much we may fear the unknown.

The key to understanding "The Key"

Isaac Bashevis Singer, author of "The Key," won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1978 (watch part of his acceptance speech above)

The Key? "Kindness,
I've discovered, is everything in life." (Isaac Bashevis Singer)

Who was Isaac Bashevis Singer?

He was a Nobel Prize winner, who was born in Poland but became an American writer and journalist. He wrote mostly about Polish life and the Jewish faith. He didn’t feel his job as a writer was to teach or save people but just to tell stories. Singer was raised in a very traditional Jewish household. His father was a rabbi, and he was raised in a traditional Jewish town in the area of Poland restricted to non-Jews. His family was very literate and told stories. He “published 18 novels, 14 children's books, a number of essays, articles, and reviews,” and short stories. He always wrote in Yiddish first, because he said he liked to write ghost stories and that a dying language was beshttp://www.kirjasto.sci.fi/ibsinger.htmt for that!. One aspect of his writing that is very evident in “The Key” is the aspect of our lives that deals with spirituality and magic. He died in 1991.

What was "The Key" about?

Bessie Popkins lives alone in her cramped New York apartment, waiting for a reunion with her beloved husband who died twenty years earlier. She hides in her home, sure that every person outside will steal from her, rob her, or hurt her in some way. More and more, she never leaves. However, one day she must go to the supermarket and takes two hours to finish her errand, because she is tortured by her fears of contact with others. When she gets home to her door, exhausted, she breaks the key in her lock. She refuses to speak to neighbors or the handyman, because she distrusts them all. So, she leaves again, in search of a locksmith. Bessie becomes more fearful as night falls and becomes confused and disoriented. She has no friends or family to count on, and she falls asleep in the doorway of a church. During the night, she experiences a change: she experiences life differently. No longer does she distrust people, she sees that people need each other and that others are worthy of love. Her neighbors, strangers and the handyman all assist her and demonstrate that her fears were not real, and that she had missed much of life. That evening, exhausted from the spiritual experience, she finally meets with her husband, Sam, and dies.

What questions do I have about the story?
1. How come it took the main character so much time in order to realize that she can live a happy life with all the problems she had?

2. How come anybody didnt help her, did anyone know that she needed any help?

3. What happened when she walked through the park that made her change her mind all of a sudden?

4. What does the key represent in the movie?

5. Is the butterfly Sam or her own soul?

What are some themes in the story?

Fear: Fear is what kept the main character from conquering her isolation and reaching her hope. The main character is afraid to move on in life. The main character was slowed down by fear and isolation. An example of fear would be when her key broke, and she was scared to go walk out on the street, beacuse she couldn't see very well and didn't trsut others to help her.

Hope: Hope is the only thing in our ody that keeps us running. Hope is found in "The Key" at the end when she realizes that all people are worth love and respoect. She sees that all she does is look at the negative aspects in her life (blind, poor, alone, and widowed), when she should really be thinking positively about what's good in the world. She still has a life to live, despite the death of Sam, and she might as well live a happy one.

Isolation: Isolation is found all through out the story when the main character loses her husband and makes herself all alone in the world without any help. Besse is a sick, elderly woman who lives her life not depending on others to help her get through the day, at great cost. The main character has nobody to protect he or care for her, after twenty years of living an isolated life. The cost is distrust, fear, paranoia, sadness.

Redemption: Besse is finally redeemed from her life of tragic loneliness and fear, when she is ironically forced out into the world by the key that kept the world out. When the key breaks, so does bessie's old life. The only way back in to her old life is to fix the "key." Instead, the broken key forces Bessie to rely on others and becomes a key to let othersinto her life. When she opens herself to others, it is like she is spiritually ready to meet Sam again. That's why I believe he was the butterfly, reborn.

What was my response to "The Key"?

I belive that this story is an inspiration to all in which read it. This story discusses the struggle of hope and isolation. In this story, I learned that if one passes away it is not your duty to live the rest of your life in distress. You need to learn how to be happy. An example of this would be when at the end she makes a huge turn around at the end of the story in order to get her life back on track.The moral of this story is that love is all around us, not just in a few "key" relationships. Once we are able to give our love freely, without fear, we will receive love in great amounts, freely.

"A City Churches" by Donald Barthelme

A short story that defies expectations and forms.

Summary

"City of Churches" is a short story written in 1973 by Donald Barthelme. The story takes place in a small town isolated from the real world. The name of this town is called Prestor. The story starts of when the town's guide, Mr.Phillips shows the town around to Cecilia, a woman who is new to this town, who is interested in starting a car rental business in the city. Mr. Phillips implicated on to Cecilia that the town of Prestor is very religious. Cecilia clearly responded back that she wasn't a religious woman. When she mentioned that, Mr. Phillips told her that she wasn't religious yet, And that she was going to become religious sooner or later. When Cecilia looked at the town she realized that the whole town was made up of churches. This is how we know that this whole entire story is about religion. As Mr. Phillps began to talk about the city he began to explain how the churches also were held as places to stay like houses. Cecilia's only options to live in Prestor I believe were a church, basement, and a bell tower. Prestor is a very odd and strange town. The story ends with Cecilia being told that she can't leave and she responds back saying "Wait and see"



Themes

Religion/Faith: CREEPY

There is no faith in this short story, and this lack of faith creates a creepy tone.

It's as if Prestor is just superficial and the churches are just empty shells. It's supposed to have meaning and value and feel safe, but the effect of a city of churches is the opposite. For example, the fact that no one lived in houses and that everyone had to live in a church seems absurd and frightening. "Will I fit in, Cecilia wondered." Can anyone fit in in a city that has no place or value? Does it matter?

Isolation: NO COMMUNITY

Isolation means feeling alone, in other words not being connected. People are connected by their schools, interests, hobbies, jobs, religion, and their neighborhoods. Isolation is seen throughout the story. Instead of the feeling of community that would be expected in a city of churches (houses of faith), the feeling of the story is isolation. An example of isolation in the story would be when Cecilia doesn't know anybody, and that she can't place/orient herself anywhere, because everything is the same. She is isolated, just as the others of Prestor are.

Soviet Union: TOTALITARIAN
I first researched this story and found a reference to the Soviet Union. I thought that Barthelme was commenting on the sameness and greyness of the Soviets, or maybe that he was criticizing the lack of religion there. I thought the fact that the city was made up of churches was to substitute the communist idea of the Soviet Union. The fact that everyone is under control by one thing, I guessed would be the church. I re-read the article and realized it's not about the Soviet Union, but more about the sameness of US culture today.

America/Post-Modern Culture: EMPTY

In my research, I read that Barthelme is known as being "hilariously absurdist." (Updike xxi) Absurdest fiction gives the "sense that human beings, cut off from their roots, live in meaningless isolation in an alien universe." (Harper pp 112) This movie reminded me of the Stepford housewives. In this movie all the woman are robots and are all the same. And Nicole Kidman kind of feels isolated because she is the only one which is different. She wants to become a car dealer but everyone has cars. She cant live in a house because all the buildings are churches. Cecilia is Nicole Kidman's character in the City of Churches. She feels alienated, because everyone is the same, indifferent and with emotions that she doesn't comprehend. Barthelem is criticising American culture today, saying that we are cut off from each other by the superficial elements of our lives, like the Internet, highways, strip malls and Starbucks. (which I where I am writing this blog!!!)

Questions: MANY!

• What do the churches symbolize?
  
• How much meaning can life have if it based on a superficial society/culture?
  
• How can the story be compared to the Soviet Union? Modern America?
  
• Why does Barthelme choose churches/religion to play such a big role in peoples lives in Preston?
  
• Does the fact that the people live in Churches hide something?

Reader's Response: WEIRD BUT GOOD

This was a story that made me stop and think. To imagine oneself living in this town of Pres tor were one has no chance to be different. As a creative person i enjoying sticking out in the crowd. Personally my response to this story before I did the research on it was that it was very strange and weird. I kind of enjoyed reading this story not only because it was short but because it was all hiding the meaning and the theme. When I did research for the story on the Internet I found out that the author is comparing the whole entire story to the Begin of the Soviet Union. This story hid meaning, and lacked concept. Other than that I clearly enjoyed reading this story it was like an adventure.

"The Killers" by Ernest Hemingway

Ernest Hemingway

Here's a picture of Ernest Hemingway doin what he does best....Writing!!!

When I was surfing on the Internet, I came across a video about

"The Killers" you might be interested in.

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=Rg6j73AKvAw

Ernest Hemingway is renowned as one of America's most notable authors in literature. He was born in Cicero, Illinois in 1899. He committed suicide in 1961.

The short noir story,"The Killers" takes place in the town of Summit, Illinois. The story left me thinking not only about what would happen to "Ole Anderson," the former boxer, but also about Nick Adams. Nick's decision to help Ole, when clearly no one else would, surprised me. He seemed too innocent. I would have stopped the temptation to help, because my safety comes first. While this is common sense to me, Nick's behavior shows that he has little experience in this kind of world.


The story starts off with two men entering a diner called "Henry’s." They seem to be strangers, not knowing the hours of the small-town diner. They ask for dinner, when it's not being served. They order breakfast food, but they really want hard liquor. They aggressively insult George, Nick and Sam. George and Nick are "bright boys," and Sam is the "nigger." Soon, Al takes Nick and Sam to the kitchen and ties and gags them. Meanwhile, Max and George talk about the movies, but really Max confesses their plan: to kill Ole Anderson. The plan fails, as Ole Anderson never shows for dinner at "Henry's" at the expected time. The two men leave, leaving George, Nick and Sam untouched. Nick decides to visit Ole Anderson to warn him. However, he finds Ole Anderson lying down in his bed, fully clothed. Anderson responds to the warning without much fear. He knows he's down and is "through with all the running around.' (p. 75) Nick returns to "Henry's," where the event of the would-be killers is barely discussed. Nick decides that he needs to leave town, because he may end up Ole. Still, Nick, despite his fear, worries about Ole. George ends the story, saying "you better not think about it." (p.76)


Several questions are left unanswered in the story:

• Who hired the hit men?
  



• Why does Hemingway want the focus to be on Nick?




• What did Ole Anderson do in order to get himself in this horrid position?
  



• Why didn't anyone in the diner call the police?
  



• What ends up happening to Nick?

The author leaves the reader to answer these unexplained events. It lets us reflect on situations we experience, and to think twice before we get involved in conflicts as serious as these. The answers to these help us better understand the theme of the story.

Coming-of-Age Story

The themes of this story include the idea that people are born innocent and fearless until they face the fear of death. Like Nick Adams, people "come of age" when they confront life changing mistakes that they made. Maturity doesn't occur by itself, it evolves through negative life experience.

Racism

This theme continues with the character, Sam. He was known as the "Nigger" in the story and wasn't treated equally as Nick and George. Unlike Nick, Sam is most aware of how crude and ignorant human beings can be. As a black man, he has experienced racism his whole life. This is why he decides not to get involved with Nick.

What I Learned

What I learned from Hemingway's literature, story's aren't just about the plot and what takes place. Its what the authors trying to imply. What makes a DJ unique isn't the track he plays, it's how he mixes and delivers it to the crowd, just like a notable writer.