Pete Yemc
Period 7
My Name is Asher Lev
Chapter 2
In Chapter Two of My Name is Asher Lev, Chaim Potok illustrates several aspects of Asher's downward spiral after he stops drawing and is inducted into the common life of his society. One such of the aspects of his depression was the fact that Aryeh Lev, Asher's dad, becomes increasingly busy due to the hostile events occurring against the Jews in Russia. Aryeh's business leads to the marginalization of Asher in his mind and an increased concern for the work that he must do for the Rebbe. This affects Asher and also indicates a possible plot twist in which Aryeh might have to follow the steps of his great-great grandfather and travel to Russia to solve the problems of the Jews there.
First off, Aryeh's increased business causes him to spend less time with and have less concern for, Asher. Aryeh assumes that Asher's drawing and his sudden lack of (a psychologically dangerous activity as drawing was Asher's form of expression) is merely a passing phase in AsherŐs maturation. Also, when it comes to Asher's education, it also is marginalized. Upon learning of AsherŐs failing in arithmetic, Aryeh remarks "I will talk to you about this later." This nonchalant attitude and general apathy for AsherŐs life and problems leads me to believe that the increase in the amount of work which Aryeh has to do will further alienate Asher and cause him to search for an alternate paternal figure such as Yudel Krinsky.
Secondly, the increase in aggression against Jews in Russia which has occurred over Chapter Two, leads to the assumption that the aggression may continue ("a great persecution of Jews"). This increased aggression would probably cause Aryeh to have to travel more and possibly to Russia, which would be an interesting and probably traumatic incident for Asher in his young age. This trauma could affect Asher's art in the future when he becomes a legitimate artist. With the descriptions of Siberia by Yudel Krinsky and the stories of the RebbeŐs fatherŐs confrontations with Russian soldiers (who pointed a gun at the then RebbeŐs head), Asher could be deeply hurt by the concept that his father could be experiencing all of this.
Thus, here are two of the many affects on Asher that could come from the situations described in Chapter Two. Due to Aryeh Lev's increased travel which in turn is due to the increased aggression towards Jews in Russia, Asher could become further isolated from his father (as well as his mother) and be forced to find an alternate paternal figure. As well, if Aryeh Lev travels to Russia to deal with the situation there, the trauma associated with the idea of his father being in trouble could harm Asher as well as influence his art, Chaim Potok, in Chapter Two, informs us readers that trouble is a-brewin' in the little world of Asher Lev.