The exposition begins when the characters and the setting are introduced to the reader. The dialogues between the characters filled with their constant disagreement serve as the rising action. The story reaches its climax when Moris Melnik decides to let the spoon of salt define the state of things in the world and determine whose point of view is right. The falling action in the form of the argument between the characters leads to the resolution as Reb Berish gets more confident in his religious beliefs. At the same time, Moris Melnik sees the omen as evidence for his convictions.
The story is about Reb Berish, a very religious man, who took in the boarder to liven up his existence. After going through the Nazi concentration camps and traveling through half of the world, the border, Moris Melnik, eventually finds himself at Reb Berish’s apartment. The characters have opposite beliefs and views, but Berish feels that the conversations and arguments with the border are the only things that support his interest in life. The plot consists of discussions between the characters about the role of religion and the impact of Nazism on the lives of the Jewish people. The story is written from the third-person point of view, which is why the author uses third-person pronouns and refers to the characters by name.
The protagonist of the story is Reb Berish, whose white beard, bushy brows, and double bags under his eyes reveal his tired appearance caused by his grief rather than his old age. Reb Berish is a flat character, as his personality does not develop or change throughout the story. Berish had lost his wife, son, and daughter, which made him sympathetic to the character with a similar past, but opposite beliefs. Moris Melnik is another protagonist, a survivor who went through the Nazi camps losing his whole family. Melnik is a round character since the reader can learn more about him as the story develops. For instance, one might find out that his experiences with death and injustice at the concentration camps made him cynical and critical of religion. There are no antagonists in the story.
The actions take place in an apartment in New York City at the beginning of summer. The setting contrasts the lively nature of the outside world with its rich-smelling air and flying insects to the apartment’s heavy and motionless atmosphere. Through the usage of a cynical tone and detailed descriptive style, the author expresses his disdain for fascist propaganda that caused the death and suffering of Jewish people. Additionally, the usage of religious terms might signify the author’s respect for Judaism. The story’s theme is the human response to suffering. The author demonstrates how differently people react to tragic and traumatic events. Some might turn to religion as a way of dealing with grief, while others become cynical and convinced of the world’s injustice. Thus, the righteous character of Reb Berish is contrasted to sinful and bitter Moris Melnik.
The story is not particularly rich in symbolism, as there is only one instance that may be considered symbolic. Salt is a common notion in the Bible, which, on the one hand, might be viewed as a symbol of friendship and positive relationships between people. On the other hand, salt symbolizes sin, as sinners were turned into the pillars of salt. Thus, the symbol creates the duality of meaning, combining the positive value with the negative one. The author did not use foreshadowing in the story.
I enjoyed reading the story because it offers a harsh but honest view of the survivors and the consequences of Nazism and the Holocaust. The author introduces the reader to the people who had lived through excruciating physical and emotional pain and found different ways of coping with their grief and loss. I would recommend the story to others, as it might help us appreciate what we have and reconsider our attitude to life.