Sholom Aleichem's Inside Kasrilevke

Sholom Aleichem's Inside Kasrilevke is a novel in the guise of a travel book, meant to examine and appreciate the fictional city of Kasrilevke. The intent of the author is to create an imaginative city which will evoke the reader's sympathies for the unique human population of that city and for the many various social and economic sufferings which they endure and generally overcome.

The author, who purports to be a native of the city returning after some time away, declares in his Foreword that "it has occurred to me that there is no better way of showing my gratitude to my friends in Kasrilevke for their hospitality [on his visit to his parents' graves there] than by spreading the fame of their city far and wide" (7). The author leaves no doubt in his conclusion that the people of the city are indeed hardy survivors of distressing circumstances:

This has ever been the fate of the little folk of Kasrilevke: when they dream of good things to eat---they haven't a spoon; when they have a spoon---they don't dream of good things to eat (222).

The ostensible purpose of the author is the creation of a travel book: "It will tell [strangers to the city] where to get off the train; what transportation to use; where to get a tasty meal or good glass of wine" (8), etc. Again, however, in reality the author has a much more humanistic aim: to portray the difficult lives of the residents and to engender the sympathetic emotions of the reader for that Jewish populace. His book is in fac

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e you a sock in the puss, so your crunchers will go flying! . . . You potato-gobbling, noodle-guzzling, doughnut-grabbing idiot!" (28; 31). In his determination to show the people warts and all, good and bad, he shows the people to be both religious and materialistic. One stranger asks to borrow the author's prayer shawl to observe his duties of worship, while another tries to strongarm him into buying soap, or a comb, or a necktie (31-32). The farcical scene escalates as another character approaches the author, having heard that his purpose in town is to buy socks (36). Everything and everybody the author encounters defies his stated intent to honor the people and their city. He finds a thorough lack of hospitality and generosity. Rochel, for example, waiting on him in a restaurant, has nothing but insults for him. Nothing is too personal for the people to openly and immediately share with the author. Rochel's husband tells him all the tawdry secrets of their marriage. Finally, the author can take it no longer: "I interrupted my 'feast,' paid my bill, and ran out of the restaurant as if pursued by a hundred demons" (7). The characters are all unhappy with their lot, seeking improved material conditions, but not really having

Category: Literature - S