Fiddler on the Roof | The Breakdown of Tradition
In this essay, Petrusso discusses the breakdown
of tradition in Fiddler on the Roof.
In Fiddler on the Roof, tradition is an important theme, defining the lifestyle of Jews living in Anatevka, Russia, in 1905. As the dairyman Tevye says to the audience in the prologue to Act I, ‘‘Because of our traditions, we’ve kept our balance for many, many years. Because of our traditions, everyone knows who he is and what God expects him to do.’’ Such traditions define every facet of Jewish life, including how young girls find husbands. But traditions that have not changed for many years are challenged in Fiddler on the Roof. Tevye, especially, is...
[The entire page is 1837 words long]
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