The Bread Givers of Anzia Yezierska The Bread Givers of Anzia Yezierska attacks several social norms of her traditional Polish homeland and American life that her protagonist has learned to know. Clearly autobiographical, Bread Givers boldly questions why certain social and religious traditions persist through the centuries without the slightest consideration for an individual's interests or desires. Sara's traditional Jewish upbringing exposed her to a life dominated by patriarchal control; When she arrived in New York to pursue the American dream, she discovered that once again, her gender would stand in the way of such desires. Despite these cultural barriers, her mother understood Sara's burning quest to break free from traditional molds: "...When she begins to want one thing, there is no rest, no respite until she 'she gets it' (Yezierska PG). What is the American dream, and who are the people most likely to pursue its often elusive realization? Indeed, the American dream now represents the achievement of a myriad of objectives specific to each individual; While one person might view a home purchased with a white picket fence as a version of the American dream, another might view it as the financial ability to run their own business. Obviously, there is no one-size-fits-all definition of the American dream as long as two people have different meanings. What it represents universally, however, is the opportunity for people like Sara to pursue their individual and collective desires under the apolitical umbrella of democracy. "More and more, I started thinking to myself: I don't want to sell [fish] for the rest of my life. I want to learn something. I want to do something. I want a day, I become a person and I am part of "(Yezierska PG). Brought to the United States by way of their oppressive homeland, Sara's family may have believed that the streets of this nation were paved with gold and that opportunities for lifelong prosperity abound. However, none of them took the initiative to find out. themselves. Rather, they were content to earn a meager income just to have enough food on the table and a roof over their heads. Sara would have none of this, realizing early on that if she wanted to make something of herself, she would have to work much harder than her male counterpart - a sacrifice...... middle of paper ... ...to comment on them. The author's courageous attempts to overcome age-old gender biases within American society are highly commendable. She dares to challenge the idea of ​​patriarchy by displaying sincerity and burning passion from within as a way to help her female counterparts recognize the unbalanced responsibilities of femininity. Yezierska's words speak clearly and with a boldness that goes beyond expression. Her recognition that women have so much more in their souls than just remaining the oppressed female counterpart of a selfish man is startling. Carrying the burden that has tormented women for centuries, Yezierska's Bread Givers attempts to alter the historical concept of patriarchy within the confines of the West. epistemology. In the author's opinion, age-old gender models are ripe for reorganization and integration into the current framework of consciousness. Women must no longer suffer an oppressive existence simply because it is imposed on them by religious people; Yezierska instead paints a new portrait of a strong and intelligent woman who will not be constrained by irrational expectations..