Response 4 of 5
In “Man in the Sharkskin Suit: a Jewish Family’s Exodus from Old Cairo to the New World,” the story of the Egyptian Lagnado family is told by Lucette Lagnado, the daughter in the family and a reporter for the Wall Street Journal. She details the vivid nightlife and borderline luxuries life of her husband; she mentions the bustling cafes and night clubs in the city. He “assembled a wardrobe made by Cairo’s finest tailors in every possible fabric.” This life was very enjoyable and the tone of the book’s initial chapters make it seem like despite certain hardships and having to work, everyone enjoyed their successful life. The daughter, Lucette Lagnado, feels like her room is a part of her as well, especially of the views of street life in her window, which she grew to love.
After the war grew in size, life in Cairo became impossible to stay in and the family was forced to move to Alexandria, then Paris, and finally the United States. During their times as refugees, they struggled greatly to adjust to a life of poverty, which greatly differed from their original life. In New York City, their life was similar, one of struggle and grit. Her father resulted to selling ties on the street. He yearned for Cairo and his home country—including every aspect of it—the smells, food, people, views, etc.
This story of immigration from a country where conditions are unsafe or very undesirable is at the core of a very large percentage of US immigrants. Even though many aren’t running away from war, for example, they often are trying to escape political exile and harsh living conditions. Most times, these families immigrate to coastal cities, like New York, especially if they have knowledge of pre-existing enclaves in a city. The ill feelings the father feels as he desperately wishes for his home can be partially subdued through living in an Egyptian community. The yearning for home and comfort is often the reason for formation of enclaves and “little X” communities. In a community of such, the family would be surrounded by people similar to them, who are also going through similar problems. They would have access to restaurants that cook traditional food and play traditional music. While nothing would be able to compare to home, this is an effective way of reminiscing and finding comfort.
Like many people, the family came to the US to escape their country’s problems. They lost everything and the city provided them with a chance at the ever elusive American Dream.
1) How is the situation of having a lot, losing it, and then attempting to get it back different from the more common “nothing to something” situation?
2)Why did they choose to move across the world and not simply to a neighboring country?
3) Would their situation be different if they chose to move to a different city? Yonkers, NY?
