Jonathan Harrison January,28,2009

Abraham Cahan

Cahan quickly mastered the English language, and four years after his arrival in New York taught immigrants in one of the evening schools. Later he began to contribute articles to the Sun and other newspapers printed in English, and was for several years employed in a literary capacity by the Commercial Advertiser, where we was a regular contributor. (Wikipedia)

This quote is an example of how brilliant and influential a man that Abraham Cahan really was. He is a link from the old world to the new and his writings simply reflected this. His writings have opened a door of insight, which was previously shut, towards the lifestyles of Jewish immigrants in the 1900's

Every generation battles with the conflict of my way is better than yours. I think every child is lucky enough to hear from some adult the world renowned line of, " back in my day things were better... or Whats wrong with kids these days." These lines of thought are a natural instinct of human nature. One is brought up to believe that the way he was raised is the best and only way. The only problem with this theory is the fact that we live in an ever changing world where out with the old in with the new is not frowned upon yet applauded. One will always see the newer generation as a deteriorating culture lost from the purity of their own, but this view is taken without regards to the changing world. Flora is Stuck right in the middle of this conundrum as her father wishes his son-in-law to be a devout Jewish man while she herself desires, or feels she desires, a modern Americanized man. Flora, hell bent on fulfilling this dream, turns Shaya away from the pious, old way of living, into a man desiring the knowledge of the new western ways. She feels as though she is living her life the way she has always dreamed of until she is thrust amongst educated peoples, for witch she has nothing in common with. Flora feels more out of place with these new found friends than she does with the old devout ways of the old system. Thus, the major question that faced many of these new immigrants is thrust upon Flora. Where do I fit in? Abraham's story " The imported Bridgroom" is not a happy nor sad description of Life as a Jewish immigrant just a real depiction of the dilemma that many of these people faced and the reminder that that it's not easy to fit into a new world.