The Rabbi's Cat (Kitty Analysis)

            In the Story “The Rabbi’s Cat, there are many important characters. Each character in the story has a different purpose as well as meaning to the importance to the Rabbi and his religion. Some of the characters stand out more than the others, one of those characters being Kitty.  Kitty plays a very controversial character to me.

When I am first introduced to Kitty he is a silent character. He does not speak nor does he sleep at night time.  There is something very hard for me to identify.  His owner the Rabbi is very cultural. He sticks to his religion at all times. Kitty does not have a set personality nor religion. One minute he can be a good positive person on the story then Kitty can have a negative influence on the story and not care about is behavior.  Kitty was so confused he didn’t know if he was a Jewish cat or not. (pg 9) the third panel Kitty says “I don’t know if I’m a Jewish cat or not.”  So in order for kitty to colonize and fit in he is willing to go through the Jewish religion and have a  Bar Mitzuah. (pg10) panel 3 talks about the planning for Kitty’s Bar Mitzuah.
           In the story kitty has n clear understanding. He does not know who God is. Kitty also does not abide the rules or laws of the culture. Every time Kitty talks he tells lies. Kitty compares Christians to Jews a lot in the story and says that god is only a man and that he can resemble a man as well because he can talk.

In conclusion to the ending of the story Kitty has no set culture. He is colonized into thinking he is Jewish. He likes the Rabbi’s daughter so much he is willing to adapt to her set norms, tradition, and cultural beliefs. Colonization is so strong it is a destructive force that can changes one’s life, and when see that when we study the life of Kitty in this story.

*I choose this pic because it examplifies the point I am trying to make. Cats don't read. Cats dont have set traditions or religions. The are colonized to there environment. Kitty looks more intelligent and like he fits in with the family more. He is trying to be Jewish to win over the Rabbi's daughter.

Nervous Conditions

                 In the book I read by Tsitsi Dangarembga titled “Nervous Conditions” I found the culture very different from our culture today. A very important aspect to me that stood out to me was the value of work.  In chapter six it talked a lot about how special white people were on missions and they were holy. They were labeled as very giving people. They gave rather than take from the African people. They made many sacrifices for their people which made them very superior amongst others. A change from the past to the future is there arent as many white people on the mission anymore. One downfall about the people who helped on the missionaries was it was hard to understand them because they always answered in Shona. I know that had to be very hard and difficult for the African people because they were so use to talking to the white people in English or not having the proper education to speak English.

          Ive also looked at English as being the primary language. When I read books like this it reminds me that over in Africa many people didn’t have the opportunity to learn more that their own native language. Many families couldn’t send their child/ren to school because of being in poverty and due to their lack of.  I rememeber growing up I had a Mexican Friend. All they spoke in her household was Spanish. This really confused me and made me feel out of place. They were very nice and helpful but it was a hassle for me to accept that we were different from one another and had some developing to do.