The need to assimilate: Searching for an american identity in Abraham Cahan's 'The Rise of David Levinsky' and James Weldon Johnson's 'The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man'

Nonfiction, Entertainment, Drama, Anthologies
Cover of the book The need to assimilate: Searching for an american identity in Abraham Cahan's 'The Rise of David Levinsky' and James Weldon Johnson's 'The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man' by Sonja Longolius, GRIN Publishing
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Sonja Longolius ISBN: 9783638871044
Publisher: GRIN Publishing Publication: December 5, 2007
Imprint: GRIN Publishing Language: English
Author: Sonja Longolius
ISBN: 9783638871044
Publisher: GRIN Publishing
Publication: December 5, 2007
Imprint: GRIN Publishing
Language: English

Seminar paper from the year 2005 in the subject American Studies - Literature, grade: 1,3, Free University of Berlin (John-F.-Kennedy Institut ), course: 'The Subaltern Speaks': Minority Literature in the USA, 12 entries in the bibliography, language: English, abstract: Around World War One, two American authors from different minority backgrounds published their seemingly unlike novels. In 1912, the African American diplomat and writer James Weldon Johnson published his narrative 'The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man' anonymously, and in 1917, the Jewish American editor and journalist Abraham Cahan put out his novel 'The Rise of David Levinsky'. Despite all differences obvious between the authors and their protagonists, both novels nevertheless describe at their core the need to assimilate, the search for an American identity and the costs of assimilation. In their quest for an American identity, both protagonists, the former Orthodox Jew from Russia and the anonymous, light-skinned African American, chose to escape white Anglo-Saxon Protestant hostility towards their minority status by assimilating respectively by passing as far as possible into the dominant culture of white American society. The need to assimilate derives from the fear of marginalization and the hostility shown towards minority groups in America. It is precisely this threatening attitude in combination with a longing to take part in the dominant culture of American society that finally forces these characters to assimilate respectively to pass entirely. Despite their minority backgrounds, both protagonists manage to enter the dominant culture at last. But even though both men live up to a life of financial and social success at the end of the novels, their narratives are not simply average American success-stories, but rather tragic tales on the high costs of assimilation. Levinsky and the Ex-Colored Man live the classical American dream from 'rags to riches', but in the end, both must nevertheless realize that wealth and a high social status alone do not guarantee true inner happiness. The conclusion seems bitter: one's marginality and minority status must be overcome in order to take part in the 'American success story'. But even though ethnic and racial backgrounds can be denied and essential parts of one's own identity can be ignored, full assimilation can never be achieved. The successful economic and social rise of the two men cannot be separated from the tragic personal failure to find their true identity and inner happiness. In their novels, Cahan and Johnson thus voice the dreadful loss of individual identity that full assimilation and passing ask for.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

Seminar paper from the year 2005 in the subject American Studies - Literature, grade: 1,3, Free University of Berlin (John-F.-Kennedy Institut ), course: 'The Subaltern Speaks': Minority Literature in the USA, 12 entries in the bibliography, language: English, abstract: Around World War One, two American authors from different minority backgrounds published their seemingly unlike novels. In 1912, the African American diplomat and writer James Weldon Johnson published his narrative 'The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man' anonymously, and in 1917, the Jewish American editor and journalist Abraham Cahan put out his novel 'The Rise of David Levinsky'. Despite all differences obvious between the authors and their protagonists, both novels nevertheless describe at their core the need to assimilate, the search for an American identity and the costs of assimilation. In their quest for an American identity, both protagonists, the former Orthodox Jew from Russia and the anonymous, light-skinned African American, chose to escape white Anglo-Saxon Protestant hostility towards their minority status by assimilating respectively by passing as far as possible into the dominant culture of white American society. The need to assimilate derives from the fear of marginalization and the hostility shown towards minority groups in America. It is precisely this threatening attitude in combination with a longing to take part in the dominant culture of American society that finally forces these characters to assimilate respectively to pass entirely. Despite their minority backgrounds, both protagonists manage to enter the dominant culture at last. But even though both men live up to a life of financial and social success at the end of the novels, their narratives are not simply average American success-stories, but rather tragic tales on the high costs of assimilation. Levinsky and the Ex-Colored Man live the classical American dream from 'rags to riches', but in the end, both must nevertheless realize that wealth and a high social status alone do not guarantee true inner happiness. The conclusion seems bitter: one's marginality and minority status must be overcome in order to take part in the 'American success story'. But even though ethnic and racial backgrounds can be denied and essential parts of one's own identity can be ignored, full assimilation can never be achieved. The successful economic and social rise of the two men cannot be separated from the tragic personal failure to find their true identity and inner happiness. In their novels, Cahan and Johnson thus voice the dreadful loss of individual identity that full assimilation and passing ask for.

More books from GRIN Publishing

Cover of the book Alienation in Richard Wright's The Outsider by Sonja Longolius
Cover of the book The state as an actor in global politics by Sonja Longolius
Cover of the book Francis Daniel Pastorius and his image of America in the late 17th century by Sonja Longolius
Cover of the book Humor in Comic Strips: A pragmatic Analysis of 'Nemi' by Sonja Longolius
Cover of the book Teaching Literature: Language and Cultural Awareness Using the Example of 'Hills Like White Elephants' by Sonja Longolius
Cover of the book The influence of the International Finance Institutions' liberal policies in Latin America by Sonja Longolius
Cover of the book Global Corporate Strategy - Honda Case Study by Sonja Longolius
Cover of the book Automatic stabilizers for fiscal policy by Sonja Longolius
Cover of the book Edgar Allan Poe's Literary Theory and its Application in 'The Fall of the House of Usher' by Sonja Longolius
Cover of the book Doping and Detection in Professional Sport by Sonja Longolius
Cover of the book British Asians. The diaspora's relationship with their new homeland by Sonja Longolius
Cover of the book Die mémoire involontaire und andere Formen des Erinnerns in Marcel Prousts 'Auf der Suche nach der verlorenen Zeit' by Sonja Longolius
Cover of the book Choose Your Words Wisely. How Laypeople's Health Decisions are Shaped by Presentation Format by Sonja Longolius
Cover of the book Disentangling a learning organization. An integration of theoretical models by Sonja Longolius
Cover of the book The high failure rates of cross-border mergers due to the focus of companies on hard factors by Sonja Longolius
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy