WILLIAM FRITH
IMMIGRANT LIT. SPRING 2002
RESEARCH/ANALYSIS ESSAY

SARA SMOLINSKY’S EVOLUTION OF SELF AS COMPARED TO THE

IMMIGRANT NARRATIVE

Sara Smolinsky’s evolution of self and self-actualization is parallel to the Immigrant Narrative in that she realizes what it is to be independent and free, all while retaining her identity as a Jew.  This evolution of thought is only possible within the sphere of American thought (at least at the time in which this story takes place), helping Sara to follow the “American Dream” until she is able to realize that women are oppressed in the traditions of her old world.  This move to the New World helped to open her eyes to the fact that she did not have to live under the constraints of her father's oppressive traditional beliefs.  For one to realize such things, struggle must take place, in order that one can make and learn from their mistakes and observations of the world around them.

As far as the definition and use of the term “self-actualization” are concerned, one must consider the psychological use of this concept.  The Humanistic approach to psychology is concerned with the full potential of the human personality, a positive view of people with emphasis on tolerance, empathy, and

assistance through therapy rather than medication and structured clinical visits (Carlson/Buskist, 471).  It was Abraham Maslow who developed a system of needs arranged in a hierarchical order, with self-actualization as the final stage and goal of the development of personality (Carlson/Buskist, 472).  According to Maslow, self-actualization is defined as “the realization of one’s true intellectual and emotional potential” (Carlson/Buskist, 471).  It is only after one meets the needs preceding self-actualization that one may actually reach the final stage.

Sara, through the progression of the story, finds much adversity and recognizes the obstacles she must face at a particularly early point in her development.  It is only through self-actualization that she can finally reach stage 5 of the Immigrant Narrative, the (partial) rediscovery or reassertion of ethnic identity, by the end of the story, where she finds and learns to love her father and his ways again, this time without the resentment and with the realization that it is not necessary to succumb to every aspect of her heritage in order to retain her cultural identity.  With new knowledge, she is able to participate in both the American way of life, including the financial security of which she dreamed, and her father’s life, while helping him to live the Holy life to which he aspired.

The book itself is divided into sections which document her journey toward her potential.  The first section, entitled “Hester Street,” gave details of her life in the traditional world of her father, where she gains the experience and the desire to search for something else.  The second section, “Between Two Worlds,” shows her evolution of character as she realizes that something must change in order for her to find her true “Self.”  The third and final section, “The New World,” documents Sara’s voyage through her new life, independent and alone (until she finds true love), with all of the aspects of the American Dream. It is in this section that she rediscovers the value of the old ways of her father, and attempts to reassert this part of her identity.

Sara’s development of character follows the Immigrant Narrative throughout the story.  In the earlier sections of the story, she learns that a departure from the Old World is necessary, that the oppressive nature of her father’s traditional ways is harmful and stifles her development.  The earliest sign of her inevitable exodus and the resulting independence is the vignette with Muhmenkeh, the herring salesperson.  The altruistic act of the fish dealer allows Sara to earn a wage with her own labor and intellect.  It is here that she realizes, even if it is only partially, that she can break away from her family and gain a life for herself.  She says this in her thoughts: “I was always saying to myself, if I ever had a quarter or a half dollar in my hand, I’d run away from home and never look on our dirty house again” (Yezierska, 22). Her concrete realization eventually comes and she begins to think seriously of leaving.  “I want to learn something.  I want to do something…I’d want an American-born man who was his own boss.  And he would let me be my own boss…no fathers…no mothers…no sweatshops, and no herring!” (66). It is at this point that she begins her real journey.  She first learns a few more lessons (infatuation, heartbreak, disappointment, and increasing struggle) before leaving for her voyage, leading her down the path of self-actualization and the Immigrant Narrative.

It is in chapter VIII, when Sara leaves her family’s store that she truly begins her excursion.  This is her completion of Stage 1 of the Immigrant Narrative, the leaving behind of the Old World in hopes for a better life in the midst of the American Dream.  “Should I let him [her father] crush me as he crushed them?  No.  This is America, where children are people.” (135).  She states the reason one is able to survive on one’s own in America; “I’m smart enough to look out for myself.  It’s a new life now.  In America, women don’t need men to boss them.” (137).  This is the foundation of the American Dream, life without oppression, true independence. Her final words to her father, before leaving, state the reason for such a change in living and desire for the new life.  “I’m not from the old country.  I’m American!” (138).  Her declaration pushes her out the door on her way to her self-actualization. Stage 2 of the Immigrant Narrative consists of the journey to the New World, which, in the case of Sara, is the non-ethnic public sphere of America.  She takes the train to New York, not knowing what to expect, though she first goes to the Jewish ghetto with which she is familiar in hopes of gaining some sort of independence there, the words of her father ringing in her ears.  She finally arrives, and enters Stage 3 of the Immigrant Narrative, which, for the purposes of self-actualization (and what happens to hold true for the story), is the longest and most painful stage, the one in which the most lessons and realizations are to be had.

In chapter X, Sara decides to go to school; education being the most empowering experience one can have when wishing to achieve independence.  At this point, Sara can see Stage 4 (figuratively, of course), but cannot quite reach it.  There is a bit of overlapping between Stages 3 and 4 for Sara, because she knows that she must assimilate, but is unaware of the degree to which she must conform until she is enrolled in college.  The difficulty she faces in finding a place to live becomes one of the lessons in her journey.  She realizes that, under the constraints of the ethnic neighborhoods, she is still under the grasp of the Old World, even when she is away from her father.  The neighborhood is another obstacle she must overcome, as she must leave it completely behind in order to find the American Dream, and, more importantly, reach the point of self-actualization.  This is another point in Stage 3 where she finds that her sight of Stage 4 is not yet obtainable. Sara’s experience in the ethnic enclaves while preparing for college shows yet more obstacles she must overcome.  First, there is the dreadful loneliness and filth of her stuffy apartment.  She finally gives up on trying to change this and concentrate on getting into college.  Next, her sisters visit and berate her for living in such conditions.  Her honest and modest answer to their concern brings the truth out.  They, she learns, are miserable in their respective lives, and the wealth they obtained is not worth the misery in which they live.  They are still oppressed by their culture, through their husbands and families, and are now admitting to Sara the real state in which they find themselves.  This brings about a new realization in Sara; that the truth about wealth is that wealth is not true happiness.  This lesson furthers her own perseverance and lets her see past the distraction of worldly wealth.

When Sara is finally able to attend college, she discovers that the same obstacles exist in different forms.  She learns that her appearance and mannerisms are not acceptable in the society into which she wishes to assimilate.  Her lack of wealth becomes a hurdle over which she must leap.  She eventually finds a way to prove to the dominant culture of the college (somewhat wealthy Caucasians) her worth through merit, winning her an award of some monetary significance.  Through this door, she finds that Stage 4 is near. Sara is able to assimilate by finding a well-paying profession and working on her appearance.  She blends into the dominant culture, placing her in the 4^th stage of the Immigrant Narrative, assimilation and loss of ethnic identity (she buys an outfit that blends into the dominant majority’s way of dress).  Upon entering this stage, she is on the cusp of self-actualization.  With this new identity, she is truly free of the expectations to which she has been accustomed, being those of her traditional father and culture, and that of not “fitting in” with the dominant culture at school.  There is a negative aspect to this new identity of Sara’s; that she has forgotten the events that led her thus far (not completely, just enough to lessen the importance). Upon entering Stage 5 of the Immigrant Narrative, Sara begins brooding about her past, and learns that her mother is not well.  It is upon her return to family that she realizes the importance of the struggle she just overcame, that the efforts she put forth were not in vain, but that they held much value.  After the death of her mother and her father’s remarrying, Sara loses sight of the importance of her upbringing again (though there is now a fresh memory in her mind). During this time of loss of her ethnic identity (meant in a crude sense) for the second time, Sara falls in love with Hugo Seelig, helping her to realize another important aspect of self-actualization, which is the love and care for others (besides family, which, at this point, she is trying to avoid).

Chapter XX finds Sara in an apartment facing the ghetto from which she came.  This time, though, she realizes the emptiness of her situation, that the things she tried (and that were necessary) to leave behind were the very things she needed to have a full life.  Falling in love with Hugo helps her to realize that the void in which she finds herself can be filled, not only with his love, but with that of her father as well. She remembers verses from the Torah: “a woman without a man is less than nothing.  No life on earth, no hope of Heaven.”  She is able to see beyond the literal level of these words and realizes that it means, for her, anyway, that companionship is the true path to happiness.  She directed her focus onto Hugo Seelig, a person who was “just plain human.”  She discovers that he understands her and that he found the path towards self-actualization himself.  He shared her past.  His understanding of her place and position in life thrust her into Stage 5 of the Immigrant Narrative (rediscovery, for the second time, though this time was of more permanence and poignancy) and into self-actualization, in that she knew who she was, and that all of her experiences really were necessary and good.  This leads to her finding her father and learning to deal with his new money-hungry wife, and giving him a new, better life.  With this, Sara finds that her identity now exists on all levels; with obligations to culture, family, and self. Maslow stated that those who were self-actualized met certain criteria, or at least shared some of the same personality attributes.  These individuals were very “self-accepting of themselves and of their lives’ circumstances…had strong senses of human values and appreciation of life…” (Carlson/Buskist, 472). By the end of the novel, Sara realizes all of these things, and becomes a strong character, with an exemplary will and value system.  She realizes the importance of the human condition, represented through her care and rediscovered love for her father.  “To hell with my feelings.  He needs me!”

“Deeper than love, deeper than pity, is that oneness of the flesh that’s in him and in me.  Who gave me the fire, the passion, to push myself up from the dirt?  If I grow, if I rise, if I ever amount to something, is it not his spirit burning in me?” The end of the novel shows Sara offering her father a place to live with her, and, perhaps the greatest gift in his eyes, a willing student of his specialty, the Torah.  She gives herself so that another can have happiness, and without second thoughts, as she is now self-actualized (and, in Stage 5 of the Immigrant Narrative), meaning that his happiness helps to make hers.

This new awareness in which Sara finds herself is necessary for her realization of self.  Thus, with a free mind, she can truly appreciate the value of her culture and upbringing.  In allowing her father back into her life, she is not submitting, but empowering herself with a rediscovered sense of identity to compliment her independence. Within the Immigrant Narrative, Sara’s arrival at her goals is possible, in her time, only in America, with “The Dream” in mind.  The Immigrant Narrative itself is realized in this context as well.  Sara’s journey towards self-actualization and the 5th stage of the Immigrant Narrative is recognizable in all humans who are aware of their own potential for greatness, even if only on a personal scale.  The reassertion of her ethnic identity represents the appreciation and value one may place upon their own life experiences and struggles; that the adversity they face is as valuable as the self-actualization they have reached, while the American Dream represents the goals and determination one has for reaching the level self-actualization.

WORKS CITED

Carlson, Neil R. and Buskist, William.  Psychology: the Science of Behavior 5th ed.  Boston.  1997.

Yezierska, Anzia.  Bread Givers.  New York.  1999.

White, Craig.  “Syllabus for LITR 4333: American Immigrant Literature Spring 2002 Semester.”  Houston.  2002.