This story is about an old man named Zelig, who had a very awkward appearance. He lived with his wife, son and grandson, in New York. Zelig was a type of person who did not like to socialize with other people. He would just go to work which is the cloak shop and do what he was told. Many people would comment about him either that he was weird or he was an alien, because he would never smile or even talk to anyone. He even wore different clothes than other people. Every day Zelig would save every penny that he got from his job and put it under his pillow. He did this because his desire was to go back to Russia and die where he was born. One day Zelig got the news about his son getting a sudden attack because he suffered from tuberculosis. Zelig ran to get a physician but the physician said that there was no chance of survival. After a few days his son had died. Now Zelig was living with his wife and grandson. After a month or two Zelig had enough money to go to Russia, so he was planning when to go. But, his grandson told his grandma who was Zelig’s wife that he did not want to go to University in Russia but in New York. He said this because he knew the Russian Universities will never accept him. Zelig got really angry at him but his wife explained to him about her son’s death, and also to feel pity for his grandson for once. That night Zelig was thinking about what to do whether to let his grandson stay in New York or take him and his wife to Russia. After a while he figured out what to do and told his grandson that he can continue his education in New York.
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Zelig- By: Benjamin Roseblatt
" Sometimes you might have to sacrifice your dreams for others" 
This story is about an old man named Zelig, who had a very awkward appearance. He lived with his wife, son and grandson, in New York. Zelig was a type of person who did not like to socialize with other people. He would just go to work which is the cloak shop and do what he was told. Many people would comment about him either that he was weird or he was an alien, because he would never smile or even talk to anyone. He even wore different clothes than other people. Every day Zelig would save every penny that he got from his job and put it under his pillow. He did this because his desire was to go back to Russia and die where he was born. One day Zelig got the news about his son getting a sudden attack because he suffered from tuberculosis. Zelig ran to get a physician but the physician said that there was no chance of survival. After a few days his son had died. Now Zelig was living with his wife and grandson. After a month or two Zelig had enough money to go to Russia, so he was planning when to go. But, his grandson told his grandma who was Zelig’s wife that he did not want to go to University in Russia but in New York. He said this because he knew the Russian Universities will never accept him. Zelig got really angry at him but his wife explained to him about her son’s death, and also to feel pity for his grandson for once. That night Zelig was thinking about what to do whether to let his grandson stay in New York or take him and his wife to Russia. After a while he figured out what to do and told his grandson that he can continue his education in New York.
This story is about an old man named Zelig, who had a very awkward appearance. He lived with his wife, son and grandson, in New York. Zelig was a type of person who did not like to socialize with other people. He would just go to work which is the cloak shop and do what he was told. Many people would comment about him either that he was weird or he was an alien, because he would never smile or even talk to anyone. He even wore different clothes than other people. Every day Zelig would save every penny that he got from his job and put it under his pillow. He did this because his desire was to go back to Russia and die where he was born. One day Zelig got the news about his son getting a sudden attack because he suffered from tuberculosis. Zelig ran to get a physician but the physician said that there was no chance of survival. After a few days his son had died. Now Zelig was living with his wife and grandson. After a month or two Zelig had enough money to go to Russia, so he was planning when to go. But, his grandson told his grandma who was Zelig’s wife that he did not want to go to University in Russia but in New York. He said this because he knew the Russian Universities will never accept him. Zelig got really angry at him but his wife explained to him about her son’s death, and also to feel pity for his grandson for once. That night Zelig was thinking about what to do whether to let his grandson stay in New York or take him and his wife to Russia. After a while he figured out what to do and told his grandson that he can continue his education in New York.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDelete---i think that the protagonist, came to realize that not only does his dreams matter but also his grandsons, therefore he allows his grandson to pursue his dreams. (this being the theme).
ReplyDelete*Was there any symbols within the story, that you might have thought had great importance to the short story?
yes there was a symbol which was a stone. This meant that Zelig did not like to socialize with other people or even talk to them. Other than that I don't think that there were any other symbols that had great importance to the short story.
ReplyDeleteHow was the stone related to Zelig? in the story. Was their a metaphor or was there a direct relation towards him (ex.he fiddles with rocks alot)?
ReplyDeleteActually his wife said it in the story that he was alone like a stone. It is like an idiom. Because stones are always alone- obviously they don't socialize with other rocks. The same thing applies to Zelig - that he is always alone and also he doesn't sociallize with other people. And no the rock does not have a direct relation to Zelig .
ReplyDeleteIn the story did they desribe his appearance? If so, did you aswell find it wierd or "alien" -like?
ReplyDeleteWhat would you have said to the grandchild if you were in Zelig's shoes?
ReplyDeleteMonica: Yes they did describe his appearance which was compared to an abnormal person. He was described as the person who dresses differently from normal people , always sad and a lonely person. while I read that story I didn't find this character as a weird and a awkward looking person. I actually found him as a person who wants friends and wants to talk to people but fears that they might say bad comments about him.
ReplyDeleteChamindu: If I was in Zelig's shoes I would have said that he could have the money for college and can continue his education in New York. I would have not fought with my grandchid.