Fiddler on the Roof Essay -- essays research papers

The musical called â€Å"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 is a clever philosopher and sticks very much to tradition. In the story Tevya says â€Å"Anatefka is our home...to keep in balance by tradition...† This explains the title which is personally understood that through Tevya’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.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  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 kill Tzeitle if she marries Lazar, and after...