Hodel by Sholom Aleichem
"Hodel" by Sholom Aleichem is a poignant story that explores themes of tradition, love, and familial bonds within a Jewish cultural context. The narrative follows Tevye the Milkman, who grapples with the modern desires of his daughters, particularly Hodel, who seeks education and has formed a romantic connection with a young man named Feferel. Their bond defies traditional matchmaking customs, as Hodel and Feferel choose to marry without the typical parental approval or rituals, much to Tevye's dismay. As Tevye navigates his conflicting emotions and cultural expectations, he must confront the generational divide between his values and those of his children.
The story takes a dramatic turn when Feferel is arrested, prompting Hodel to decide to follow him into exile, which marks a significant departure from Tevye's hopes for her future. Tevye's struggle to understand and accept his daughter's choices is central to the narrative, revealing deep emotional layers and highlighting the tension between traditional values and individual aspirations. Ultimately, "Hodel" serves as a reflection on the complexities of love and sacrifice, emphasizing the profound connections between parents and children amidst changing societal norms.
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Hodel by Sholom Aleichem
First published: 1894 (English translation, 1949)
Type of plot: Wit and humor
Time of work: The late 1800's
Locale: Anatevka, a fictitious village in Russia, and environs
Principal Characters:
Sholom Aleichem , the listener-recorder and primary narrator, an authorTevye the Milkman , the story's secondary narratorHodel , Tevye's second eldest daughterPertschik (known as Feferel) , Hodel's teacher and husband, a revolutionary-minded socialist studentGolde , Tevye's wife
The Story
After some time of not meeting him, Tevye the Milkman meets Sholom Aleichem, the story's primary narrator as well as its author, and begins to tell of the troubles that have come on him (turning his hair gray) because of his gullibility, fatalism, and obedience to God, which make him an easy target for misfortune.
His latest trouble, as most always, involves marrying off his daughters by means of the traditional arrangements. Hodel, like many young people of her age, is thirsty for an education and has learned to read both Yiddish and Russian from a young university student, Pertschik (known as Feferel). Hodel met Feferel because of a chance happening in which her father played a part. One day, on his way home from delivering his dairy goods to the nearby summer vacation spot for the well-to-do of Boiberik (Aleichem's fictional name for the town of Boira), Tevye sees Feferel and offers the young man a ride.
Tevye's conversation with the sharp-tongued youth (as they ride together) reveals the latter's socialistic sentiments; the son of a local cigarette maker, Feferel expresses contempt for his own class for not sharing their possessions with the poor. Impressed by the lad's talkativeness, Tevye invites him for dinner, which henceforth precipitates Feferel's daily return visits. In return for his meals, the young man agrees to provide Tevye's daughters (six are left now) with lessons.
The only fault that Tevye finds in Feferel is his tendency to vanish suddenly, only to return several days later venting his anger toward the wealthy classes—possessors of money, the root of all evil on earth—while extolling the simple virtues of the poor.
Along with their "philosophical" conversations, Tevye soon learns of Feferel's admiration for his daughter Hodel. On the following day, while in Boiberik, Tevye happens on Ephraim the matchmaker, who offers him an ideal match with a man from a fine family, educated in the holy books of Judaism—and rich. Although not a spring chicken, the prospective groom's credentials intrigue Tevye sufficiently so that he agrees to bring his daughter Hodel with him on his next week's journey.
Driving home, daydreaming about becoming a wealthy and influential man through the marriage of Hodel, Tevye recognizes Feferel walking out of the woods with her. Confronting them, Tevye soon realizes that his new hopes are about to be shattered, for Feferel and Hodel have become engaged without going through the traditional procedures of matchmaking, contract, or parental blessing. Tevye, accustomed by now to the modern notion of love, still cannot accept the young couple's decision to marry outside the traditional customs. Furthermore, Feferel's intention to leave immediately after the wedding, and leave Hodel behind, confounds Tevye. Adding to his consternation, Hodel and Feferel declare their plans to dispense with the prematrimonial customs; they want only a modest ceremony. That is how things happen, while Tevye placates his wife Golde with lies about Feferel's rich inheritance. After the wedding, while driving the young couple to the railroad station to see Feferel off, Tevye is still uncertain about Feferel's reasons for leaving; Hodel tells her father that he would not understand even if she were to tell him.
Some months later—after Tevye's worries bring him closer to Hodel's plight—news arrives for Hodel of Feferel's arrest. Thereupon she confides to Tevye her decision to follow Feferel to his distant place of exile, perhaps never again to see her mother, father, and sisters. Tevye, whose heart grieves over the news, feigns a cheerful expression and controls his emotions, knowing that no amount of pleading or anger can sway one of his daughters once her mind is made up. He thus becomes resigned to the differences in their views and values (as different as a hen is from a duck, they agree) and reluctantly agrees to help her.
To conceal the truth from Golde, Tevye fabricates a tale about an inheritance to justify Hodel's need to pack some bedding and belongings and depart on the following morning on a long journey. While the women cry, Tevye maintains a cool, sober exterior until he and Hodel arrive at the railroad station, where Hodel breaks down, crying on her father's shoulder, and he too appears to lose his composure.
Cutting his narrative at this point, Tevye asks Aleichem's forgiveness for becoming so emotional about his daughter (whose letters continue to arrive) and asks to talk about more cheerful things, such as the recent outbreak of cholera in Odessa.