When Shadrach first gets off the ship, he is met by “two dapper looking young men, each of whom wore a flaring necktie with a diamond in it”. (Page 46) The strange dressing signals to us that a difference has happened to the two young men. They are not what they used to be in Russia; otherwise Shadrach would have recognized them immediately. In addition, seeing their father’s old fashioned dressing, Abel and Gottlieb look at each other in dismay. (Page 46) Apparently, Shadrach is not the only one who is surprised in an unpleasant way. The newly-immigrated look of him does not impress his two sons. They do not regard it American enough.

Another detail that may reveal a lot to us about the value of Gottlieb and Abel is in the dialogue between the father and the sons. Right after they greet Shadrach on the bank, they suggest taking their father to have his old fashioned beard trimmed. They feel embarrassed by Shadrach’s newly immigrated look. (Page 46) The conversation shows that to Gottlieb and Abel, to dress like the American is a crucial step to be accepted by the society. They are afraid that their old traditional clothing will reveal their old culture and they will be regarded as inferior to the real Americans. In another word, they value the superficial things as the core of Americanization.

In the following time, the conflicts go on. Abel and Gottlieb want their father to get rid of the old Jewish religious practice as they have done. They summon up their courage to inform Shadrach that they have already left out the prayer at meals because this is not what an authentic American would do. (Page 47) And Gottlieb even expresses his fear that his father’s old Jewish ways would scare away his American fiancée. They think that behaving like the Americans would help conceive their inner difference and immigration background.

 Now let’s see the Americanization of Shadrach Cohen. Shadrach declares the beginning of his Americanization after his major conflict with Gottlieb. “Marta,” he says, “to-morrow we become Americanized, you and I.” (Page 48) Yet after that, Shadrach has not changed his dressing as his two children. When Miriam comes to visit his father-in-law, she is amazed at the venerable figure that stands before her, “a picture of a patriarch from the Pentateuch, with a long, straggling beard, and ringlets of hair falling over the ears, and clad in the long gabardine of the Russian Ghettos.” (Page 51) From this passage, we can see that Shadrach has maintained his Russian Jewish dressing. Then, after all, what is different about this old man?

 Instead of showing no interest towards the shop Abel and Gottlieb opened, Shadrach takes the business back into his own hands after he decides to get Americanized. He fires the impolite clerk in the shop and makes Abel and Gottlieb work longer hours. He works earnestly and uses his money-making spirit to make insightful decisions for the shop. He leads the shop towards the kind of prosperity beyond his two sons’ imagination. Shadrach’s Americanization embraces the idea of American dream. When he first came, he is a tolerant father who agreed to his sons’ endless demand for money and showed little interest to the family business. Yet after living in the United States, he becomes active in career again and works hard to earn a living. He is the one who understands the core of the American value, which is to live independently and earnestly. He gets Americanized through getting a successful business. He wins the acceptance of the American society through showing his business ability and wit. Contrary to his sons, Shadrach values the American spirit instead of the superficial dressing.

 Up till now, there is one question left: that is how does the difference in the father’s and sons’ understanding help resolve all the conflicts?

The answer can be found in the last few paragraphs of the story. When Abel and Gottlieb perceive that people are showing their father the kind of respect they have long be pursuing, reverence grows out of their heart. (Page 50) Those two young people have spent five years trying to be respected members of the society. When they realize that all their efforts are not as half effective as their father’s Americanization, the prejudice and conflicts within the household are naturally solved. They begin to doubt the validation of their old way of Americanization and gradually, they are making compromise to their father. They are willing to try his way and use their ability and wit to win the real acceptance of those around. Had Shadrach only insisted on preserving the old way, he would not have regained his sons’ respect. Had Shadrach not got the deference from the society, his sons would not see the flaw in their understanding of Americanization. Both the two generations want a successful life in the new environment. Though at first they adopted different means, they still share the same goal. Shadrach leads his sons to see the shallowness of their minds and thus regains respect. This is why I say in Shadrach’s case, Americanization plays a more important role than maintaining old practice. It is not clinging to the old, but embracing the new that pays off.

 Throughout the story, we may vividly see the struggling and conflicts going on in this newly-immigrated household. Through the gradual changes in Abel and Gottlieb’s attitudes towards their father, the true meaningful way of Americanization is presented. Superficial things might disguise one’s difference, yet respect can only be gained through wit and spirit. In today’s society, the population of immigration is still very large. The experience of Shadrach Cohen and his family members is a good source of inspiration for us.