Badillo, Jerome Robin M.

4A3

“Fiddler on the Roof”

The movie “Fiddler on the Roof” which is produced and directed by Norman Jewison
shows the importance of traditions to every family of the society. The movie shows the traditions
that the people of Anatevka has and how these were disobeyed. In the movie, wherein the
daughters of Tevye break the tradition of Anatevka by not pursuing the relationship matched
and proposed by Yente. Even if it is against the will of their father, for the sake of his love for his
daughters, he is willing to break the tradition.

As the plot goes, the first time they broke the tradition is when Tevye didn’t pursue the
marriage between Lazar Wolf and her daughter Teizel inspite of the agreement they had,
because he saw that Motel, the tailor, even if he’s not that rich compared to Lazar, truly loves
her daughter. And for me, that’s the essence of marriage, you cannot enter into marriage if your
love is not true and infinite. I don’t like the tradition they have, specifically the matchmaking,
because I believe that no one should fix the marriage between two people because only that
man and woman would know if that person would be the perfect match for them. The second
time they break the tradition is when Perchik crosses the barrier between the men and women
during the marriage of Teizel and Motel. In my opinion, Perchik should have not done that
knowing that he is from other country, being a newcomer in that place, he should have
respected the tradition they have in that community. In addition, Hodel, just like her sister breaks
the tradition by accepting the proposal of Perchik and telling Tevye that they are engaged, and
they are appalled that they are flouting tradition by making their own match. Just like what I’ve
said, nothing is wrong with finding your own match because for me, that’s the right thing to do
for a good marriage and family. But what I don’t like is when Hodel told his father “We do not
seek for your permission, only your blessing.”, for me, that’s disobeying your parents. In
marriage, you should always ask for the permission from your parents before entering such
relationship because they are the reason for your existence in this world. Without them, you
would be nothing. Lastly, I don’t like what Chava did when she didn’t listen to her father when
her father wasn’t in favor of her wedding because it is outside the Jewish faith. As a student of
marriage and family, I learned that we should learn to follow what are parents is asking for us
because they know what is good for us.

To conclude, “Fiddler on the roof” shows how they value marriage and family into the
extent that they are willing to break the strong tradition they have in that community in exchange
of long lasting and harmonious relationship. Moreover, I agree with them that you should really
be the one picking the person who will be with you for your entire life, because you are the one
to determine the perfect person that fits you. Though the movie is quite disappointing because
of the breaking of tradition, it teaches us that we should not be afraid to fight for love especially
if we know that it is the right thing to do. Always remember that the most important thing in the
world is family and love above everything.