5- TAKE PITY (By: Bernard Malamud)
1. CHARACTER SKETCH OF EVA OR THE THEME OF THE STORY OR A STORY OF SELF-RESPECT AND DETERMINATION
Q. No. 1: Draw the character sketch of Eva? OR The theme of the story is undaunted struggle of a woman against the exploitation of a man. Discuss. ORWhat problems had Eva to face after the death of her husband? Discuss. ORThe story is a mirror to the American society in 1930. Discuss. OR In the story the writer has shown the attitude of Polish refugees who did not want to become a burden on any one. Discuss.
Answer: – The story “Take Pity” written by Bernard Malamud actually deals with the social problems of his age. It was a time when they Americans were faced with the worst depression and even fought with each other for a piece of bread. The story under discussion is the story of a Polish family which did not want to become a burden on anyone. The main theme of the story is actually the undaunted struggle of a widow, named Eva. She was left alone in the world with her two daughters. It was a period of great hardships for her. She received one thousand dollar insurance left by her husband. She decided to run the store but failed badly. A friend of her husband, Rosen tried to help her and adopted different ways but she did not accept whatever he did for her. One day, her daughters were hungry. He brought a nice piece of beef for her daughters but they refused saying: “We can’t take, Momma says today is fast.”Rosen advised her to leave the place but she did not agree. Rosen adopted another way to help her. He sent her money showing that it was from a friend who owed it to her late husband. He also offered her to leave his belongings after his death but once again he faced failure.
We can say that Eva was a dignified woman with great sense of self-respect. She was not ready to give in before the adverse circumstances of life.
2. CHARACTER SKETCH OF ROSEN
Q. No. 2: Draw the character sketch of Rosen. OR How does Rosen try to help Eva? OR Is Rosen a hypocrite fellow?
Answer: – Rosen was the friend of Eva’s husband. He was kind and sympathetic fellow. He could not
see his dear ones in any trouble. That’ why, he was much worried to see Eva and her daughters in
misery. He tried to help them and adopted different ways but she did not accept whatever he did for her.
One day, her daughters were hungry. He brought a nice piece of beef for her daughters but they refused
saying: “We can’t take, Momma says today is fast.” Rosen advised her to leave the place but she did
not agree. Rosen adopted another way to help her. He sent her money showing that it was from a friend
who owed it to her late husband. He also offered her to leave his belongings after his death but once
again he faced failure.
But it is one side of the coin because whatever he was trying to do was not purely sympathetic.
Actually he was a lonely and sick person and wanted to marry Eva. He wanted the support of Eva’s
family but also wanted to infuse a new spirit in their life. Another thing that disappoints us is that he
requested Eva again and again to marry him. It also humiliated her before Eva. At the end of the story
he cursed Eva when she came to his house with the feelings of remorse. He should not have treated her
in disgraceful manner. On the whole, he was a good person but with some signs of hypocrisy. (Words: 252)