David Levinsky essays

David Levinsky essays David Levinsky justifies his conclusion in both the introduction and the conclusion to his novel by complying with his misery. David Levinsky is happier being poor with goals than being rich. The only way for David to become a true American was to give up his Jewish religion, which was the basis of his whole identity. The result of Davids integration into the United States was that he spent the better part of his whole life comparing what he had to what he has achieved. He concludes that he was happier being a poor Talmud student not having a chance at success, than being a well-known, rich, cloak-manufacturer. In this essay I will talk about Davids misery in poverty, his material change from religion and his goals. Throughout the book, David goes through a complete material change from start to finish. Time and time again the reader sees David thrive off of his poverty or his horrible karma. He snags his chances at life by exaggerating his poverty. He is almost like a beggar. The quote, It seemed as if she were taking care of me from her grave, suggests that the mere fact that his murdered mother gave him a chance. He tells his sad miserable story about his mother several times in Russia and especially in America, and it always benefits him. David also tells of his first honest wages, suggesting that the begging that he did in the past was dishonest: He writes, And when I received my first wages-the first money I had ever earned by the work of my hands-it seemed as if it were the first money I had ever earned honestly. David was very alone after his mother died and lost an interest in his religious studies. He fills this hole and his hunger for knowledge by going to America. He grows so in a materialistic way, that it makes him a very educated man in America. He sees education as a way of power over people. He signifies this several times through h ...