eg4 Cross-cultural adaptation
Some foreign people have an easier time adapting to life in other country than other people. Bernard Malamud in his story “The Jewbird” shows us what factors may help to influence the cross-cultural adaptation of someone. The author’s different points of views trod Cohen’s attitudes against Jewbird, their bizarre behavior, and last the way how they are trying to learn to adapt like a family.
The story shows how Cohen’s attitudes have a conflict against Schwartz. Cohen has many ways of demonstrating his aggressiveness forms, in the story he uses a lot of bad language for being a Jew. “Poor bird, my ass. He’s a foxy bastard. He thinks he’s a Jew” (p. 738). This indicates that Cohen thinks he is a better Jew than Schwartz, which shows that Cohen has been under the influence of the different culture, around him: “This ain’t a restaurant,” Cohen replied (p. 736), “Who’s obligated to feed you anything at all? You’re lucky to get herring” (p. 739). This also proves Cohen has not any kindness to Schwartz.
The author is trying to demonstrate the bizarre behavior of different people, which they are in the same Jewish culture. Eddie and Maurie offer Schwartz hospitality in their home. “Let him stay, papa” “He is only a bird” (p.738). His wife tries than Cohen to understand that Schwartz is not a problem at all. “He’s no trouble at all”. (p.738).
Unfortunately Cohen’s behavior and frustration against the bird drives him to commit a violent action without compassion and conscious. He never felt guilty in the moment that he committed Schawartz’s death. “That’s the end of that dirty bastard” (p.741). He tries to justify his action by saying “what that sonofabitch bird did. It’s a permanent scar” (p.741); and he argued that the bird flew away. “I threw him out and he flew away”. (p.741)
Cohen couldn’t wait for Schwartz to give him a good reason to attack him. When Cohen was “attacked” by Schwartz, he left him a permanent scar; which I think represent the way he has been adapted to Jewish culture, but he has forgotten his original culture because of the influence from another country.
Like a family is important to learn the different forms of adaptation in a new country, without forgetting their own culture. In the story, you can see how Schwartz to adapt to a new environment. “He wants to build a nest” (p.740) Cohen didn’t have the ability to be comfortable with accepting the bird as a new family member. “Cohen, why do you hate me so much?” and he said “you’re an A-number-one trouble maker, that’s why”. Cohen sees Schwartz like an intruder in his home, even though they both share a common culture. This feeling that Cohen has, it doesn’t necessarily mean that Schwartz is an intruder because he was very educated, helpful and caring for everyone in the household.
With this story in my opinion, the author is telling us just because we might be in a different country, this doesn’t mean to leave and forget your own culture. Also we shouldn’t change the behavior and attitudes; and we have to learn to adapt our customs, feelings and beliefs under the new circumstances.
Harper, M (2002). Issue and the individual reading for College
Composition (2th edition). boston: McGraw-hill .
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