The Last Topic: Exploring the way America comes across throughout the two stories 

Two Texts Selected: Eli, The Fanatic and The Loudest Voice

Both of these stories are  in regards to the drastic change and basically expectation vs reality of the jewish community in America. Eli The Fanatic is able to highlight why many of the rules placed on American Jews, and jews in general, are so different from what they believe is right. Even though Jewish people are not doing anything legally wrong, socially it is wrong because it’s out of the customs and regulations that most Jewish people are used to following in America. Through this story the customs are enforced on Eli by other Jews, saying that even though he is not doing anything wrong he must stop having a school with Eighteen children. 

On the other hand we have The Loudest Voice, once again even though he is not doing anything wrong he must stop having a school with Eighteen children. On the other hand we have The Loudest Voice, once again even though there is no written rule or law that shirley cannot participate in certain places the mother explains that it is simply not right, and not the good thing to do. Shirley’s mother’s attitude throughout the story demonstrates how much there is a lack of approval for Shirley partaking in the Christmas play. 

Across both stories America comes across as this country that has created a pedestal and a line that Jewish people must follow. However it is this line that was also created by Jewish people themselves. This is demonstrated through the stance that Shirley’s mom has on Shirly participating and being active in a Christmas play instead of letting the participation and “outspokenness” be left to those who actually Celebrate Christmas. While on the other side of the coin, Eli was shamed and expected to stop teaching eighteen children in the residence, not because it was exactly against any legal law but it was against the social/moral law.