MY NAME IS ASHER LEV

Chapter 5

Andrew Beck

Period 7 2/20/99

Mr. Luizzi

The beginning of chapter five starts with a description of one of Asher's drawings. The drawing shows a burning library, somewhat similar to that of the Ladover building. Flames reach out the windows and engulf piles of books. Later Asher actually draws the burning Ladover building. In response to these pictures, Rivkeh brings her son to three different doctors. A suggestion by one doctor leads Asher Lev to a museum. This becomes the first of many trips to a number of museums. The museum really became a doorway for Asher Lev. It was his way out of the small and tightly regulated world that he currently resided in to a whole new world. Asher was now able to escape his old world of mean, pimply faced boys and constant misunderstandings. The misunderstandings of his father, the mashpia and the Rebbe could now be forgotten and he could now spend time with those that did understand. This new world showed how much bigger the world was than the small apartment that he lived in and the old street that he lived on. This new world was an interesting world to Asher. Asher was now capable of surrounding himself with the finest artists in the world.

It seemed to Asher that his old places of refuge were no longer safe. Places like Yudel Krinsky's store were now infested with the kind the feelings his father had. When Asher confesses to the drawing of the Rebbe in the Chumash, Yudel Krinsky lashes out at Asher and is described as "horrified." With former sanctuaries now not so appealing Asher has to reach for new things. So with his Gift from the Other Side he is able to find security in the museum.

Another reason that Asher has to reach out for help is the deterioration of family relationships at the Lev household. While Asher and his father have not always had the most loving of relationships he and his father have become particularly distant. Aryeh Lev still regards Asher's one treasure as foolishness. In a sharp argument, Asher is able to vent some of his feelings through words rather than art by defending his artwork as not foolishness. Rivkeh has difficulty standing as a barrier wall between the two.

Also, during Asher's talk with the mashpia about the so called "desecration of a Chumash" there is particular signs that things will not be going in Asher's direction. The narrow window behind the mashpia provides Asher with a different view of the world. With it raining outside people are carrying umbrellas to shield them from the rain. The gray rain fills the world with a dismal mist and the bleak sky hovered menacingly above the buildings. All are signs of the dark world of the Other Side that Asher lives in. It seems that he is naked in a world where everyone else is clothed. He appears to be the only one alone.