Compare and Contrast Asher and Emma

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In the novel, “My name is Asher Lev”, by Chaim Potok the protagonist Asher Lev is introduced as a young boy who is intelligent, artistic and bound by religion. The story is written in first person starting out with Asher at about 5 years of age. Asher is raised by both his mother and father in a Jewish community. His father is highly appreciated by the Jewish community for his tremendous generosity, and hard work. Asher’s father travels many times throughout the book to help harbor members of the Jewish religion. Throughout the book it is inferred that this is during a time when the Jewish people are struggling, early 1900 before the Holocaust. Asher’s mother values and cherishes Asher’s art, and encourages him to draw despite his fathers concern. At five years of age Asher begins to be plagued by visions which intrigue him to draw, even though it is looked down upon by his Jewish peers. Asher draws as much as he possibly can, and his mother is in awe of her sons raw talent. She always encourages Asher to draw with the exception that it is beautiful. Asher in the beginning of the story only draws beautiful things trees, people, water and his mother. After Asher’s uncle dies, his mother becomes depressed and will not get out of bed or talk. Asher starts to draw his feelings during this time as he begins to battle demons of ancestry over his art as he begins to defy his religion. After Asher’s mother’s health returns he begins to strive for the respect of his religion and his fathers acceptance. Asher is soon offered a chance to study behind a great artist Jospeh Kahn who will soon help Asher define himself through art or religion. As Joseph Kahn pushes Asher to find truth in his painting, he also pushes the morals of his Jewish belief. Asher struggles to find the meaning of his art and is compelled to draw the truth from his mentor and friend

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