Sara and her father, Reb, on the surface may seem to have clashing personalities. Indeed they do disagree on many accounts. Reb values religion and going to Heaven while Sara and the rest of the Smolinsky family strives for a better life on earth. Their differences, however, are but in their values. In many instances throughout the book, we can tell that Sara has certain character traits that very much resemble her father’s.
Reb dedicates his entire life to learning about the Torah and leading a life that will grant him access to heaven. He lives on his daughters’ wages and spends all his time reading his books. Although Sara does not share his diligence for religious studies, Sara goes to similar extremes when knowledge– in a worldly sense– is concerned. She, like her father, leaves her family to fend for themselves and works only towards her own goal. She even tells her mother than she will not visit her parents again until after she finishes college because it is more important in her immediate future. When she finally finishes her studies and goes to visit her mother, Sara is devastated to find her on her deathbed. Likewise, Reb’s search for knowledge also destroys his family. He rejects all of his daughters’ lovers and forces them into unhealthy marriages. Bessie goes on to bear a greater burden in her husband’s home caring for her six step children. Mashah becomes dirt poor after discovering her husband was a fraud. Fania is expected to dress and act wealthy without spending money as though she were wealthy.
Sara and Reb are both stubborn and stuck on their own beliefs right to the end. Sara’s pursuit of education battles her father’s persistent quest for knowledge. Both of their beliefs are tested in the early 20th century American society that they live in. The established gender roles at the time discourage Sara from becoming a person. Women and young girls were expected to marry and be housemakers. Sara, however, continued to strive for a college degree and a profession that would make her self sufficient. Reb struggled to validate his old world values in the American new world. In once instance, the landlady accused him of being lazy for not working to pay the bills and knocked his holy book out of his hand and to the floor. Reb still held his beliefs close to him and looks for a job that will leave most of his time to dedicate towards his learning. Despite, their contrasting American dreams, Sara shares her strong willed character with her father.
