Essay Questions

Why is the Swede admired by the Jewish community?

The Jewish community sees the Swede as an Americanized version of their culture. They see him as the future where they will not be ostracized or belittled for their beliefs. They want to believe that the future will be better and less harsh for their children.

Why is the story told through the narrator, Nathan Zuckerman, rather than by Swede Levov?

By having the story told by Nathan Zuckerman, the reader can see how the Swede was idolized by his community. Swede is proud and would not want any to see his life as anything other than perfect. To see his life for how it truly was, someone else needs to tell the story. Nathan Zuckerman as a writer seeks to know the truth of his childhood hero. The reader gets to see how Swede is viewed by his brother and what flaws he sees in his brother. By having the story told by an outsider, the reader gets a better view of the story.

How does the story use the changing of the country to compare to the change within the Levov family?

The United States becomes a country of rebellion during the Vietnam War. Activists protest against the war and the country is torn between the younger generation who rebels against the government and the older generation who were taught to respect the government. This is reflected in the Levov family. Merry is rebelling against the war that she feels her country should not be a part of and against a family who is not what they appear. The perfect family life that they demonstrate is a façade. Merry seeks to reveal the truth of her family and the country where she lives.