The First Seven Years
The First Seven Years
The First Seven Years by Bernard Malamud depicted the story of a shoemaker named Feld desperately attempting to give his daughter Miriam what he thinks is a better life and does not attempt to try and find out what she really needs. The difference between how Sobel and Max appear and how they really are is a significant thematic element to the story, for Sobel and Max differ in both physical and sentimental features. Eventually, Feld is able to see past the appearances of each character, ultimately rejecting Max as a possible husband for his daughter and accepting Sobel as Miriam's life companion. Max is a very young man with "sharply cut features" and is studying to be an accountant. In addition, his hard work and the potential of getting a well paid job makes Feld convinced with him as Miriam's potential suitor. Although Max appears to be an up-and-coming young businessman, Miriam finds him "boring" and claimed that he "has no soul", no passion and no depth. In the story Max acts as a representation of materialism because in Feld eyes Max can bring "things" into Miriam's life, yet Feld can't comprehend that Max's spoiled and materialistic attitude towards life will definitely not provide Miriam a life full of love and joy.
"A young man but old", Sobel is a thirty-five year old bald man who worked for Feld for years with a low wage. Even though he is an "ugly" and a lowly assistant, he is a very happy, humble and realistic man that only Miriam sees his spiritual qualities. Furthermore, although he didn't pursue school education, he taught himself through books which made him a knowledgeable and intellectual person, for he has no interest in neither social respectability nor wealth. In addition, the story's title is the most obvious proof of the humanism in Sobel, for the seven years is the amount of time that he is willing to wait to pursue the love that he has for Miriam.
Throughout the story the father thinks that she
The First Seven Years by Bernard Malamud depicted the story of a shoemaker named Feld desperately attempting to give his daughter Miriam what he thinks is a better life and does not attempt to try and find out what she really needs. The difference between how Sobel and Max appear and how they really are is a significant thematic element to the story, for Sobel and Max differ in both physical and sentimental features. Eventually, Feld is able to see past the appearances of each character, ultimately rejecting Max as a possible husband for his daughter and accepting Sobel as Miriam's life companion. Max is a very young man with "sharply cut features" and is studying to be an accountant. In addition, his hard work and the potential of getting a well paid job makes Feld convinced with him as Miriam's potential suitor. Although Max appears to be an up-and-coming young businessman, Miriam finds him "boring" and claimed that he "has no soul", no passion and no depth. In the story Max acts as a representation of materialism because in Feld eyes Max can bring "things" into Miriam's life, yet Feld can't comprehend that Max's spoiled and materialistic attitude towards life will definitely not provide Miriam a life full of love and joy.
"A young man but old", Sobel is a thirty-five year old bald man who worked for Feld for years with a low wage. Even though he is an "ugly" and a lowly assistant, he is a very happy, humble and realistic man that only Miriam sees his spiritual qualities. Furthermore, although he didn't pursue school education, he taught himself through books which made him a knowledgeable and intellectual person, for he has no interest in neither social respectability nor wealth. In addition, the story's title is the most obvious proof of the humanism in Sobel, for the seven years is the amount of time that he is willing to wait to pursue the love that he has for Miriam.
Throughout the story the father thinks that she