Page 4: Americanization and Character Development

The final page of The Pushcart Peddlers PDF focuses on the play's representation of the Americanization process and the stages of development that immigrants, particularly Shimmel, go through in their journey to integrate into American society.

Highlight: The play can be understood as a reflection of typical steps in the process of Americanization or integration of immigrants into American society.

Shimmel is presented as a stereotypical character who undergoes various stages of development throughout the play. These stages represent key aspects of the immigrant experience in America:

1. Finding employment: Shimmel learns how to sell things from a pushcart, representing the first step of securing a job in the new country.

2. Starting a business: He begins to make a career by starting his own business, embodying the entrepreneurial spirit often associated with the American Dream.

3. Learning to negotiate: This represents the hard work and skills necessary to succeed in the American business world.

4. Changing identity: Shimmel begins to accept a new identity, symbolizing the process of integration into American culture.

5. Adopting American behaviors: He learns how to deal with people and behave in an "American" way, representing the final stages of cultural assimilation.

Definition: Americanization - The process by which an immigrant to the United States becomes assimilated into American culture and society.

These stages of development are not just personal to Shimmel but represent broader themes in The Pushcart Peddlers interpretation. They illustrate the challenges and transformations that many immigrants face in their quest to build a new life in America.

Example: Shimmel's journey from a naive newcomer to a savvy businessman mirrors the idealized path of success in the American Dream narrative.

This final section of The Pushcart Peddlers Summary ties together the themes of ambition, manipulation, and cultural adaptation that run throughout the play, providing a comprehensive view of the immigrant experience as portrayed in this work.