STARTING POINT. “A few years ago I passed one of the congested East
Side streets just when a fire broke out in one of the tenements. I
saw climbing down the fire escapes of the burning building a very
old Jewess dragging some of her belongings with her. Among these
belongings was a pair of old-fashioned, common-place candlesticks
used for ‘Sabbath blessing.’ That started me on the way to ‘The
Menorah.’”--_Benjamin Rosenblatt._
CLASSIFICATION. “The Menorah” offers itself as a fit companion-piece
to “Zelig.” In the latter, the setting is New York, the character is
an old man, the struggle is successfully unsuccessful. In this, the
setting is “a little town in Russia,” the chief character is an old
woman, the struggle is successfully unsuccessful. It is to be remarked
that the two settings are equally well-known to Mr. Rosenblatt.
PLOT. The _struggle_ is on Lea’s part to preserve appearances in her
rapidly deteriorating circumstances, to find a match for her daughter,
and to keep the Menorah. The last is the most important. Although she
fails, she does so in a way to relieve the reader’s distress at her
failing.
A _minor climax_ is in the death of the younger girl.
The _dramatic climax_ is the securing of the proper young man as
bridegroom for her daughter.
With the dramatic climax is bound up the _climax of action_ (of the
largest struggle): the Menorah must be sold.
CHARACTERIZATION. The story is told, as was “Zelig,” from the
omniscient author’s point of view with the omniscience exercised
over the chief character. Study the portrayal of Lea, as you were
recommended to study that of Zelig. What is the purpose of Reb
Schloime? Compare him with “Paw” Haynes in “The Path of Glory” as to
his function.
DETAILS. These two stories by Benjamin Rosenblatt perform a service
for the Jewish people, in rationalizing the desire for money, a desire
about which volumes have been written. It is to be observed in these
narratives that the possession of worldly treasure in each case is
secondary to another ideal. In Lea’s case it is her love for her
ancestors and their glory joined to a sensitiveness at the fall in her
worldly station. What is the primary ideal in “Zelig”?
What clue to the disposal of the candelabrum occurs earlier in the
narrative?
What national and racial customs intensify the setting?
“To me, a narrative that has for its aim to interest the reader in
its plot is an anecdote, be its plot ever so thick. A narrative that
aims to interest the reader in a slice of palpitating life--the joys
or sorrows of people--be its plot ever so thin, I call it a short
story.”--_Benjamin Rosenblatt._