Mr. Levov was one of those slum-reared Jewish fathers whose rough-hewn, undereducated perspective goaded a whole generation of striving, college-educated Jewish sons: a father for whom everything is an unshakable duty, for whom there is a right way and wrong way and nothing in between, a father whose compound of ambitions, biases, and beliefs is so unruffled by careful thinking that he isn't as easy to escape from as he seems. Limited men with limitless energy; men quick to be friendly and quick to be fed up; men for whom the most serious thing in life is to keep going despite everything. And we were there sons. It was our job to love them.
Mr. Levov embodies the archetype of a tough, undereducated Jewish father whose rigid worldview shapes his children’s experiences and aspirations. His perspective is grounded in strong convictions about duty and morality, leaving little room for ambiguity. He represents a generation of men driven by ambition and energy, often masking their limitations with a facade of authority and determination. These fathers expect unwavering respect and loyalty, establishing a demanding dynamic within their families.
The sons of such fathers carry the weight of these expectations, tasked with loving and understanding them despite their complexities. They navigate a relationship fraught with the challenge of living up to rigorous standards while grappling with their own identities and desires. This generational tension highlights the struggle between tradition and personal aspiration, as the sons seek their paths while honoring the legacy of their relentless fathers.
