“America”

David Levinsky literally rises above all the disadvantages that he has been dealt by life.  Although his father passes away while he is a still a young child his mother is still able to provide for him.  Although it is the bare minimum it allows him to attend school.  Soon however, his mother passes away as well and his circumstances worsen.  He is all alone in the world yet he is able to overcome his loneliness and poverty.  Even the betrayal that he faces with Matilda, his true love, is not enough to stop him from taking progressive steps towards a better future in America.  Once in America he truly feels freedom as a tangible emotion when he stands for the national anthem and appreciates the freedom that his adopted country offered to him and many others just like him.  Although he has abandoned his study of the Talmud his religion and the right to choose is still important to him.  He is forced to acknowledge the fact that under the American flag, an American is allowed to practice their religion without any fear of persecution.  He states, “But there was something else in it as well. Many of those who were now paying tribute to the Stars and Stripes were listening to the tune with grave, solemn mien. It was as if they were saying: ‘We are not persecuted under this flag. At last we have found a home.’”  He immigrates to the United States despite the fact that he feels apprehensive about leaving his country and all that he knows behind.  I think that the first thing he states in his novel is the most significant idea.  He claims that although now, years later he has become a powerful, wealthy and known personality he has essentially remained the same under all his worldly titles.  He believes that he is still the same young boy underneath the expensive suit.