Fiddler on the Roof

In Scene 2, Yente and Tzeitel meet in the street and Yente informs Tzeitel that there is gossip about Chava and Fyedka spending time together. Additionally, there is a letter from Perchik for Hodel at the post office. Tzeitel starts to leave to pick it up, but Yente hands it to her, claiming that it was already opened. After Tzeitel exits, Yente spreads gossip that Perchik, who made such a fuss by dancing at the wedding, has been arrested in Kiev. The news travels from person to person, changing to say that Hodel has been arrested, then Motel, then Tevye, and then Golde. Finally, the news has no resemblance to the original story, imagining wild misfortunes that have stricken Tevye’s family. Yente caps this with the statement: “And that’s what comes of men and women dancing!” (79).

Scene 3 takes place at the train station, where Tevye is waiting to see Hodel off. Tevye asks, “Is he in bad trouble, that hero of yours?” (79). Hodel tells Tevye that he is and that he has not only been arrested but convicted. Hodel insists that he hasn’t done anything wrong but was arrested for fighting against inhumanity. She is going to be with him in Siberia because she wants to help him with “the greatest work a man can do” (80). Tevye tries to convince her not to go, but Hodel sings “Far From the Home I Love” about her need to be with him even if it means leaving her home and family. Hodel promises that they will have a Jewish wedding. They embrace and Tevye says goodbye, aware that there is no way of knowing when they will see each other again. Tevye tells God, “Take care of her. See that she dresses warm” (81).

In Scene 4, townspeople are gossiping about a “new arrival” (82) at Motel and Tzeitel’s home. Shaindel, Motel’s mother, rushes through to see this “new arrival” amidst a chorus of “Mazeltov.”

Scene 5 rises on Motel’s tailor shop where everyone is gathered around his new sewing machine. Motel marvels at the machine’s abilities and asks the Rabbi whether there is a blessing for a new sewing machine. The Rabbi replies, “There’s a blessing for everything” (83), and prays. Once the crowd disperses, Golde asks Tzeitel, “And the baby? How is the baby?” (83), and Tzeitel assures her that he is doing well. Fyedka enters to pick up a shirt that Motel was sewing for him, and Motel shows him his new machine. Fyedka leaves, and Chava runs into him. Fyedka tells Chava that he wants to speak to her father, but Chava promises to do it herself. Tevye enters, and Fyedka wishes him a good day.

Tevye asks Chava what she and Fyedka were talking about. Chava begins to tell him that she and Fyedka have been friends for a long time. Tevye interrupts to insist that it would be better if they “would remain friends from a distance. You must not forget who you are and who that man is” (85). Chava defends him, and Tevye quotes the Torah, which states, “Each shall seek his own kind” (85). Chava tells Tevye, “The world is changing, Papa” (85). She admits that she and Fyedka want to marry each other. Horrified, Tevye refuses since this would mean that she would be marrying outside of the Jewish faith. Tevye orders her to “never mention his name again, never see him again” (86). Chava tells Tevye that she understands. Golde enters with Shprintze and Bielke in tow. Golde tells Tevye to see Motel’s machine later because they are going home. Angrily, Tevye insists that as “the man of the family” (86) he will do what he wants. He opens the door to the shop, glances inside, closes the door, and exclaims, “Now, let’s go home!” (86). They exit and Chava remains onstage, watching them leave.

At the start of Scene 6, Tevye speaks to God again. His horse is still having issues with his leg. Tevye expresses his exhaustion: “Dear God, I’m sick and tired of pulling this cart. I know, I know, I should push it a while” (87). Golde enters in a frenzy. Chava ran away with Fyedka. Golde searched for her, and the priest informed her that the two were married. Tevye tells Golde to go home and look after their other children. Golde protests, and he responds, “Chava is dead to us! We will forget her. Go home” (87). Golde leaves and Tevye sings “Chavaleh” sadly, mourning for “everybody’s fav’rite child” (88). Chava appears, begging Tevye to forgive and accept her marriage. To himself, Tevye asks how he can accept something that means denying his faith. But he also asks, “Can I deny my own child?” (88). Then Tevye says, “On the other hand, how can I turn my back on my faith, my people? If I try to bend that far, I will break…” (88). Tevye refuses Chava and leaves. Chava calls to him, and the chorus, offstage, sings “Tradition” (88).

In the family barn, Scene 7 reveals Yente presenting two young boys to Golde as potential matches for Shprintze and Bielke. Uncertain, Golde reminds Yente that her two daughters are still very young. A group of men from the village arrives, and Avram asks for Tevye. Alarmed, Golde sends her two youngest daughters inside to fetch him. Lazar asks if the Constable has told Tevye anything about the rumors in town. Suddenly, the Constable arrives. He asks Tevye how long it will take to sell his home and property because the Jews will be forced to leave Anatevka. Tevye demands to know why, and the Constable explains vaguely that “there’s trouble in the world” (91). The Jewish people are being evicted all over the district. The people of Anatevka will have three days to vacate and fighting against the Russian army would be futile. Angrily, Tevye orders the Constable and his men to get off his land as long as it still belongs to him. The Constable leaves, and the villagers who have gathered discuss what they will do. They sing “Anatevka” about the land that may not seem like much but has been their home.

In Scene 8, the family is preparing to part ways. Tevye and Golde will take their two youngest daughters to America. Tzeitel and Motel will stay in Warsaw with their baby until they can save enough money to travel to the United States. They are packing. Yente stops by to tell Golde that her dead husband appeared to her in a dream and told her to go to Jerusalem, so that is where she is going. Golde wishes her well, and Yente suggests that perhaps they will meet again in happier times: “Meanwhile, we suffer, we suffer, we suffer in silence” (95). Tevye enters and tells Golde to finish packing. He promises that the family will reunite soon. Golde reminds him that Hodel and Perchik are still far away. Tevye tries to reassure her, insisting that Hodel is happy in Siberia and “the other children will be with us” (96). Golde replies, “Not all” (96). Tevye changes the subject, telling Golde to hurry.

Golde tells Tevye that she needs to sweep before they can go, stating: “I don’t want to leave a dirty house” (96). Lazar enters and tells Tevye that he is going to stay with his late wife’s brother in Chicago. They say goodbye. Tzeitel tells Tevye that they are nearly ready to leave. Chava enters and Tzeitel hugs her, warning Chava that Tevye will see her. Chava insists that she wants to tell him goodbye, although Tzeitel tells her that Tevye “will not listen” (97). Chava replies, “But at least he will hear” (97). Golde emerges from the house and approaches Chava. Then Tevye enters, sees Chava, and goes back into the house. He comes back and ignores Chava, tying their belongings onto his cart. Chava tells Tevye that she and Fyedka are leaving rather than remaining with the people who are evicting the Jewish people from the village. As Tzeitel says goodbye, Tevye prompts her to add, “God be with you” (98), which she does. Chava promises to write them and then leaves. Tevye and Golde say goodbye to Tzeitel and Motel. The villagers, followed by the fiddler, leave Anatevka. The fiddler begins to play his theme, and Tevye gestures to him. The fiddler “tucks his violin under his arm and follows the group” (100) as they leave.