Reb Smolinsky!

     In Anzia Yezierska's Bread Givers, the character that irritates me the most is the father of the Smolinsky family.  I feel that he is selfish and only cares about himself and the Jewish religion to the point that the rest of his family is suffering.  Because he doesn't work, the money has to be provided by all the girls, but at this time in history it was hard for poor women to get and keep jobs.  Also, he is so focused on getting rich quick that his daughters cannot marry the husbands of the choice.  I feel it is very unfair for a woman to have to marry a man that she does not love just because her father wants a man that can support everyone.  In addition, he takes the credit for being the matchmaker for his daughters, saying he should become a professional.  However, once Masha and Fania told him that their husbands were crooks and fakes, he immediately placed the blame on the daughters.  He wants all the credit and the positive aspects of being the man of the household, but anything slightly negative cannot be put onto him.  Especially now in America, Reb Smolinsky should learn how to respect his family instead of taking total control.