"America and I" by Anzia Yezierska is a poignant and thought-provoking essay that reflects on the experiences of immigrants in America. Yezierska, herself an immigrant from Poland, writes about the struggles and challenges faced by immigrants as they try to assimilate into American society.
Throughout the essay, Yezierska presents a nuanced and complex view of the immigrant experience in America. On the one hand, she writes about the sense of freedom and opportunity that America represents for immigrants. She speaks of the "great, generous land" that welcomed her and gave her the chance to pursue her dreams and ambitions. She writes of the excitement and hope that she felt as she set foot on American soil and embarked on her new life.
At the same time, however, Yezierska also writes about the many difficulties and obstacles that immigrants face as they try to make a life in America. She speaks of the language barrier, the cultural differences, and the discrimination and prejudice that many immigrants encounter. She writes about the difficulties of finding work and making a living in a new and unfamiliar country.
Despite these challenges, Yezierska remains optimistic and determined. She writes about her efforts to learn English and adapt to American culture, and she speaks of her determination to succeed and make a better life for herself and her family. She writes about the pride and joy that she feels as she becomes more and more integrated into American society, and she speaks of her deep love and appreciation for her new country.
Overall, "America and I" is a powerful and moving essay that offers a unique perspective on the immigrant experience in America. Through Yezierska's personal story, we are able to gain insight into the struggles, triumphs, and hopes of immigrants as they seek to make a new life in a new land. It is a poignant reminder of the strength and resilience of the human spirit, and a testament to the enduring power of the American Dream.
An Analysis Of The Writing in America And I By Anzia Yezierska
See eNotes Ad-Free Start your 48-hour free trial to get access to more than 30,000 additional guides and more than 350,000 Homework Help questions answered by our experts. For almost all Americans, this entails earning a college degree, gaining a good job, buying a house, and starting a family. It is now seen that Russia is not the only place of darkness to her. Then, the turning point for Yezierska… she got a new job and began an English class. As a record of the passionate struggle of the human spirit, they are timeless.
America And I By Anzia Yezierska Analysis
Nearby, an immigrant finishes another 14-hour shift at the auto parts factory, trying to provide for his wife and child, struggling to make way in a new land. Immigrants in the 1900s Between 1891 and 1910, around twelve million immigrants arrived in the United States. They galvanize one another. The American population of people born in Europe stands at 11,916,000 in 1920. What do I want with my life? In this instance she has used light and dark to emphasize her feelings. Yezierska tone change from happy and calm to frustrated and disillusioned.
America And I: Summary Of Anzia Yezierska's Experiences Of Being A Polish Immigrant In America
Yezierska uses the idea of darkness and light to symbolize the negative and positive aspects of her experience and understanding in America. As time has passed, the gap between the rich and poor has become larger and larger. The author, Anzia Yezierska, started the story with a hopeful and anxious tone. The drive to reform the cities began in the early 1900s, and these problems were addressed in a number of ways. Many women simply enjoyed the personal freedoms changing social roles brought them, for example, exchanging restrictive Victorian garments for looser-fitting, more casual clothing and cutting their hair.
American And I Anzia Yezierska Analysis
However she seems to find light in the darkness again. United States is the land of opportunities as said by many and anyone can achieve success through hard work. She was so enthusiastic about arriving in America and finding her dream. Yezierska, Anzia, Article, in Literary Digest, quoted in Alice Kessler-Harris, Introduction to The Open Cage, An Anzia Yezierska Collection by Anzia Yezierska, Persea Books, 1979, p. Hoagland uses metaphors and imagery to describe the actions of American, while throwing in counteracting themes.