The novel Bread Givers, by Anzia Yezierska, paints an accurate portrait of the struggle between the old traditions of a young immigrant’s parents, as well as the new ideas presented by the promise of America. I found most interesting the difference in faith between the generations; it seems that through the constant reminders of God, the daughters in fact lose any religious belief they have. The father continuously uses the excuse that he cannot work because he needs to be a faith-driven and learned man, subsequently forcing his wife and daughters to scrounge for work in order to allow him this lifestyle. This is perhaps the root of the lack of faith amongst the daughters; the only true preachings they have received are used at whim, sometimes contradicting other preachings, so that the father can show them how he believes them to be wrong.

Similarly, the father often laments that he has such awful daughters, despite ruining their futures and present lives; he cares only for himself and his own interests. Because he is the first representation of religion for his daughters, they come to associate faith with chastisement and hardships. This belief that is lost from faith is then deposited by the daughters into the hope that through effort and luck they may achieve the “American Dream.” This is especially evident in Sara’s character; though she has no true religious faith, she does have faith that by enrolling in college and becoming a schoolteacher, she has the ability to make a better life and future for herself.