Fiddler on the Roof : Chava literacy?

Chava literacy?

Where would she have learned to read, much less love books? Girls did not go to school and neither Tevya or esp Golda seem the type to encourage such things.

Re: Chava literacy?

That's a good question. Even Fyedka says, "Not many girls in this village like to read." Also, in the Tradition sequence, we see little boys learning to read but not little girls.
In the original book, when Tevye first catches Chava speaking with Fyedka and asks who he is, Chava responds that Fyedka is a second Gorky. Who is Gorky? Chava responds that Gorky is a literary figure who is entirely self-taught, and who never went to school.
So let's try to review this. Since Fyedka is described by Chava as "a second Gorky", we can surmise that Fyedka was also self-educated. (Perhaps he came from a very poor family where even the boys weren't sent to school.) We can assume that Chava was probably self-taught as well. But how? She had no brothers. Perhaps she had friends/playmates with older brothers who taught her the basics. She then might've kept practicing until she became very good at reading.

There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy.

Re: Chava literacy?


Where would she have learned to read, much less love books? Girls did not go to school and neither Tevya or esp Golda seem the type to encourage such things.


Tevya "hires" Perchik to tutor his daughters in exchange for room and board, so clearly he was in favor of their education.


---
Fowler's knots? Did you say ... fowler's knots?

Re: Chava literacy?

Many children, especially girls, are capable of teaching themselves to read. I have been such a person. Also, I think that all of Tevye's daughters are literate. The oldest two communicate with others through mail, and the youngest two seem to have experience studying the bible before Perchik becomes their teacher. Chava is a heavy reader and Hodel is very verbally adept, so they have probably both learned how to read on their own. Maybe Tevye has taught the other three.
Top