Draft Two

Doing the right thing the wrong way –
Analyzing Shadrach Cohen's Method of Discipline

In Bruno Lessing's The Americanization of Shadrach Cohen, a Jewish father who has come to America to join his two sons is unpleasantly surprised to find out that they have left their traditions to adapt to the American norms. Although the story leaves us with a 'happy' ending, we see a classic example of what to avoid in disciplining children in it. 

Everyone has parents. Most of us eventually become one. They are the first people to shape a child's life and often are very much influential. They teach their children a lot of things.  Knowingly or unknowingly, they pass down their values to their children. There are times, though, that they may not be right. Or other times, they may not have the right method of teaching and disciplining.

Shadrach Cohen might have been a father who meant well, but his approach was indeed not very good. The first and foremost problem was that Cohen did not communicate well with his two sons when there were issues. When he first realized the cultural barrier between his two so-called Americanized sons and himself, he first "shut his lips tightly". Even in other incidents told in the story, Shadrach Cohen never attempts to discuss with his sons about the issues they had, and he never gives his sons a chance to explain how they feel or why they think the way they do. By using a one-way commanding and demanding rather than a two-way communication method, he shut down many opportunities that would have prevented the "turning of a worm".

Secondly, he suppressed his anger until it suddenly burst, instead of getting issues resolved each time one rose to the surface. In short, Shadrach Cohen had "suppressed rage". Whenever his sons' behaviors challenged his tenacity toward his origin and culture, he was upset but he "never lost his temper". This may seem like a good thing, but he kept silent until one day his piled-up anger exploded. Particularly because Cohen had failed to communicate well with his two sons, Abel and Gottlieb were left in bewilderment when he finally lost his temper. Of course, one of the sons' refusal to show his fiancée to the father caused a huge shock and fury, but even if we take that into account, but it still was simply the 'trigger' or the brush of a fingertip that knocked down the immensely tall heaps of negative emotions. The explosion of anger left the children wondering why the reaction is so big that particular time. 

Lastly, he used the 'money strings' to coercively demand obedience. At first, Shadrach Cohen "seemed to take no interest in the business affairs" and responded to "all their requests of money". However, this picture suddenly changes after the burst of anger. In fact, as Shadrach Cohen dictates that his sons go to bed, he threatens them by emphasizing that the house was "his" and that they would have to leave if they were to disobey. In addition, the text clearly shows us that even though they rendered their father respect for his "shrewdness" in business, they had refused to the "integrity of his character and the nobleness of heart". With the money strings in his hands, Cohen unyieldingly "demanded from his sons… obedience and respect" and even obliged them to strictly observe "every tenet of their religion". No doubt, this method 'worked' and Cohen got the respect he wanted. But such harsh and compulsory means to bring forth obedience, largely supported by the money he had rather than the genuineness between him and his sons, should not be seemed as a healthy way of disciplining and leading children.

Throughout the story, Shadrach Cohen is generally described as a good father who taught his sons not only business skills, but their own cultural background and the value of it as well. But Shadrach Cohen’s disciplinarian means of correction could have caused a negative outcome in his relationship with Abel and Gottlieb. We should be careful not to do the right thing the wrong way. Shadrach Cohen might have been a respected father, but his method should definitely not be copied.

28.5.07 03:59