Running head: A Checkered Past: America’s Melting Pot

A Checkered Past: America’s Melting Pot

Abstract
According to Sociology.about.com a melting pot, “is a concept referring to a heterogeneous society becoming homogenous with the different element “melting together” into a harmonious whole with a common culture” (Crossman, 2015). The issue with the notion of viewing society as a “melting pot,” is that the viewpoint fails to recognize the importance of preserving cultural difference within a society. Within a “melting pot,” there is a right and a wrong, with those going against the cultural norms being wrong. For example, in various African nations polygamy is a cultural norm, as it was once viewed as a sure way to build a successful empire. Fast-forward to today’s society where many Africans come to the United States to try and provide a better life for their families. However, polygamous living is strictly banned in the United States, as it is in most westernized societies. Often, individuals are forced to give up ties to native cultures in order to fit into a particular society. This is exactly the case in The Melting Pot, a play by Israel Zangwill. After surviving a pogrom, an organized massacre of a particular ethnic group David Quizano, one of the plays key characters, makes the tough decision to break his ties to Judaism for the sake of becoming American. This paper will examine Zangwill’s 1908 play and how transitioning into a society can lead to a loss of cultural identity.

A Checkered Past: America’s Melting Pot Set in New York, at the height of European immigration to the United States, Zangwill’s, The Melting Pot, tells the story of a Jewish immigrant’s journey to the United States. David a self-educated musician escapes a pogrom, an organized massacre of a particular ethnic group (Merriam-Webster), in Russia that claimed the lives of his family and countless others. David dreams of an America where all hatreds, hostilities, and feuds will melt away in a crucible, and races would melt together and become one, thus creating a new world. David declares, “America is God’s Crucible, the great Melting Pot where all the races of Europe are melting and re-forming” (Zangwill, 2007). Unfortunately for David, his hopefulness for a new world is quickly tested when he falls in love with Vera Revendal, a beautiful Russian that happens to be Christian. David’s relatives are disgusted at the idea of him marrying a non-Jew, and Vera’s family feels the same about her marry a Jew.
Ironically Vera cares about David, despite her upbringing to despise Jews. David later learns that Vera is noble and feels that she is too far above him in status. Which she quickly denounces and proclaims that David’s music lifts him to the stars. While speaking with Quincy and the Baroness, Baron boasts of his involvement in Jew-massacres. When Vera informs her father that she is marrying David, a Jew, and not Mr. Davenport, he explodes with anger and refers to David as an unbaptized dog. Baron’s need for Vera’s acceptance softens his stance on David being a Jew, but does nothing for the Baroness. She insists on not meeting David and being driven home.
Tensions peak as David and Vera learn that her father, is responsible for the pogrom, which claimed the lives of David’s family members. Vera’s father admits to his wrong doings, and labels the pogrom a holy crusade. It’s at this moment that Vera admits that she wasn’t sure of her love for David before, but she then accepted him, his people and his God. David acknowledges the barrier of blood (the deaths of his loved ones) between the two of them. Despite all the pain and turmoil faced by the couple they go on to live happily ever after.
In conclusion, the term “melting pot,” has become synonymous with American diversity. Zangwill’s play played a vital role in the popularization of the term. However, the notion of the melting potion was exclusive to white immigrants only. The melting has failed to include people of non-European origin. Africans, Hispanics, and Japanese immigrants were never included in the pot; they simply produced the fire to melt the others. Throughout the play David become more and more willing to separate his ties Jewish history, some say it was in order to become more American, I believe it was a combination of his love for Vera and his wanting to get over the tragic loss of his family. Americans often treat immigrants, as though they don’t belong, when this is never America’s land to begin with, therefore we’re all immigrants. Vera’s father, Baron shows the most change in attitude, as it was astounding to read that he was willing to let David take his life, to right his wrong-doings and do right by his daughter.

Reference:
Crossman, A. (2015). Melting Pot. Retrieved May 1, 2015 , from sociology.about.com : http://sociology.about.com/od/M_Index/g/Melting-Pot.htm
Merriam-Webster. (n.d.). (Merriam-Webster) Retrieved May 7, 2015 , from Merriam-Webster: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pogrom
Zangwill, I. (2007, December 18). Gutenberg.org. Retrieved May 7, 2015, from The Melting Pot : http://www.gutenberg.org/files/23893/23893-h/23893-h.htm