In her own life as a Jewish American immigrant, Anzia Yezierska discovered the opportunities America offered to those who yearned to be free. Yezierska uses her writing style and the protagonist of her stories to illustrate social oppression and how that affects the American dream.
Anzia Yezierska
"The Free Vacation House"
The protagonist, a mother of many children, tries to assimilate with their new found life in America. Pride in oneself is an emotion that people resist losing. Unfortunately, times have not changed so much that many immigrants and Americans still have to utilize charities of all forms, in order to survive; something that can steal away the feeling of pride. Well-intentioned charities still humiliate citizens that seek help. In order to survive, people suffer through interrogation and humiliation; "beggers" must expose the personal details of their life just to receive assistance.
Although the protagonist tries to resist accepting the charity, it becomes all too appealing when she hears the details. Her husband is away, trying to earn a living for the large family but the protagonist is also extremely exhausted from her busy work. "Don't I know I need a rest? But how? On what money can I go to the country?" (706).
Throughout the short story, the protagonist uses Yedish to illistrate her broken English. The charity workers and teacher spoke proper English; but in the case of the poor immigrants, the proper English symbolizes the idea the state employees are above the Jewish family, economically, socially, etc. The charity worker walks into the Jewish family's home, wearing a white starched dress, which stands out in the chaotic morning when the protagonists main concern is to send her kids off to school. After talking with the charity worker, the mother begins to explore the idea of the free vacation, with the cost of pride. Once approved to begin the rest of the application process, even the doctor treated the family like beggers. "He only used his fingertips to examine us with. From the way he was afraid to touch us or come near us, he made us feel like we had some catching sickness..." (709). The protagonist is disgusted by the process and how much of her pride is being chipped away with each question and procedure they must follow for the free vacation.
When the Jewish family finally arrived at the vacation house it became obvious the vacation house was actually a model home. The humiliation did not stop at the state buildings but continued to the vacation house, where vacationer were continuously treated as beggers needing a place to stay. "I was beginning to feel happy and glad that I come, when, Gott in Himmel! again a lady begins to ask us out the same questions what the nurse already asked me in my home and what was asked over again in the charity offive." (710). In charge of the vacation house, was "a fat lady all in white, with a teacher's look on her face." (711). Once again, the white clothing stood out but the narrator included another characteristic, the look of a teacher, a authority figure, someone who was socially above a poor immigrant.
There were many limitations that demonstrated the lack of respect the charity truly had for the immigrants or other "beggers."
Some rules, but not limited to: not standing on the front grass where the flowers are, don't stand on the front porch, or sit under the shady trees on chairs, don't venture into the front sitting-room, or walk where there is carpet.
The rich white people were able to tour the area and walk around freely. "How nice for these poor creatures to have a restful place like this." (712), one of the rich women commented. The key word, "creatures," is how the rich whites viewed the people that utilized the free vacation house.
By the time the Jewish family returned hom they were all thankful for what they had. "I was always kicking that my room was small and narrow..." (714). The protagonist learned she would not trade her chaotic life and was happy of her lifestyle. She would indeed wear her heritage on her chest like a mark but would stand proud of her mark.
Immigration of Russian Jews to America:
Due to extremely harsh living conditions and standards of Russia, the economic opportunity, and religious freedom, many Russian Jews immigrated to America, following in the footsteps of the German Jews. Although the German-American Jews were not pleased to have the quick invasion of Russian Jews, they helped them settle into their new home. Many Russian Jews found themselves in tenement buildings in the Lower East Side New York City, where Anzia Yezierska resided. Despite their plethora of skills, many of the Jews worked as peddlers or in factories. Although they did not fear assimilation to America, such as women and girls working, the Russian Jewish comunity stayed true to their beliefs and traditions.
