Beyond Assimilation: The Struggles and Failures of Americanization in Anzia Yezierska's Works

This dissertation explores the Americanization process of Jewish immigrants in the early twentieth century, focusing on the struggles and conflicts they faced in assimilating into mainstream American society. The study analyzes the impact of Americanizing programs and assimilation on the protagonists’ relationship with their Jewish identity, as depicted in the works of Anzia Yezierska, a first-generation Eastern European Jewish immigrant and author. The first chapter provides a historical overview of Eastern European immigration to the United States and the immigrants' first impact with the new environment. To establish a cultural context, the second chapter delves into the broader concepts of assimilation, Americanization, and pluralism. The third chapter highlights the role of Jewish immigrant women in both the immigration discourse and in Jewish American literature. Finally, the fourth chapter analyzes Anzia Yezierska’s works, focusing on the role of language, education, clothing, family dynamics, and interethnic relationships in the protagonists’ Americanization journey. This dissertation ultimately aims to shed light on the complex process of assimilation and the struggles Yezierska’s characters face as they navigate their immigrant identities while striving for achieving their dreams.