The Rise of David Levinsky

How does the setting of the Catskills affect David’s mindset when meeting Anna and considering his engagement to Fanny? How does it contrast with other settings in the novel?

David narrates his story from a future perspective. How does this narrative choice affect the way he frames his choices? Can one be a reliable narrator of one’s past? What does the novel suggest?

In what ways does assimilation affect David’s relationship with Judaism and America? What does the novel argue about assimilation? Is this argument nuanced by any events within the novel?

David sacrifices his language, culture, and religion for success. How is success defined by David, and from where do these ideas originate? How might Cahan define success differently from his character?

David argues that he deserves his wealth as a matter of evolution, then later argues that any man can succeed at business in the right conditions. How does his changed perspective support the socioeconomic arguments for socialism in the novel?

Examine David’s journey through the lens of home. How do his changing ideology and relationship to religion and wealth reflect his changing ideas and desires about home?

How does David’s early loss of both parents affect his outlook on family and marriage? How does it affect his outlook on community?

Matilda appears in David’s life at three crucial moments. What might her interactions with David in these moments suggest about her character and the novel’s themes?