In The Rise of David Levinsky, David undergoes a change from being a devout Talmud student to a rich Americanized businessman. In his transition, David relinquishes his Judaist morals and succumbs to a different lifestyle in “Godless America.”
One of the main themes throughout the novel is the pervasion of the American Dream. When Levinsky first expresses a desire to come to America, he does so in part because of the hype people created about it. His friend Naphtali as well as many other people told him that it would change his views, but David was resolved to remain devout follower of his religion. He dreamed of being educated in America, yet his business aspirations and the want of money got the better of him. It remained one of his greatest regrets throughout the events of the novel. He loses his innocence and actually resorts to unethical practices when business gets tough. Levinsky has various flirtations with married women whereas in the beginning of the novel he considered it a sin to even look at a woman. This dramatic change seems to convey that one cannot be assimilated to American culture without giving up one’s native culture and beliefs. David becomes sick of being referred to as a “green one” and so he tries his best to become Americanized.
Although David’s story can be seen as a fulfillment of the American dream because he rises from being a poor immigrant to a wealthy businessman, it can be argued that he actually is the opposite of what it means to be American. America is a mix of all different cultures and while people have adapted practices that are seen as purely American, many still hold their native culture and beliefs near and dear to them. America prides itself on being a country of different races, languages, and religions. Granted, things were different when David came, but he could have rose to the top whilst still being a devout Jew. In the end, David ends up lonely and unhappy anyway. Being a businessman was not David’s original goal and that is part of the reason why he is so unhappy. If he had gone to college as he so feverously desired, he might have ended up happier with his life. Reading and learning proved to make David happy since he was young and he was passionate about it. Instead of conforming to who he was he tried desperately to change and ended up sacrificing his happiness in the end.
