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The Melting Pot Play Summary

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The Melting Pot by Israel Zangwill is a four-act play that speaks about immigration, assimilation, fusion, pluralism, prejudice, and discrimination. A main character of the play is David Quixano who immigrated to the non-Jewish boroughs of New York. However, David is Jewish and escaped from Russia. The other main character of the play is Vera Revenda. Vera is a Christian who also came from Russia. When David and Vera speak out about their love for one another, their families both disapprove because of who one another are. Similar to Romeo and Juliet, Israel Zangwill produced a play but with a happy alternative ending. The feud between these two families is due to Vera’s father who was responsible for the death of David’s family in a pogrom. A pogrom is an organized massacre of the Jewish people in Russia. It was in a pogrom that David lost his sister and mother, causing a great tension …show more content…

Immigrants are defined as people who come to a foreign country to live permanently. People can immigrate for many of different reasons. During the period that this play was written many immigrants were coming to America to establish new lives, which included religious freedom, escaping famine, escaping death, or better wages of profits. David Quixano and his grandmother Frau Quixano immigrated to the United States to escape the pogroms that were happening in Russia. Whereas, Vera and her family immigrated to the United States after being under the notice of Czar’s police. While each family member of this play adjusted differently this is, something all immigrates had to do. Some immigrants like David had an optimistic look on coming to America. However, Frau was living the same life she did while in Russia and wanting no changes. Vera who initial was very prejudice overcame her Christian and family ties, whereas David overcame his traumatic memories of his

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