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Introduction   To Literature: Essay On Little Rooster

INTRODUCTION   TO LITERATURE: ESSAY ON LITTLE

ROOSTER

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Introduction   To Literature: Essay On Little Rooster

Introduction

“The Little Rooster” is a short story written by David Bezmozgis which is a part of

his short story collection book called “Immigrant City”. The book describes short stories that

have Jewish diasporic themes that talks about leaving the country to settle down one place

while retrieving the memories that one has left behind. The story “Little Rooster” talks

about the unknowing past that remained hidden and some secrets that further made the

reality more fraught as it made it hard to keep a balance between the past and the present,

thus bringing justification to the name of the story. The essay further concentrates on

examing the themes and the significance of the story.

Body

The rooster signifies patriarchal society and some secrets that are always hidden from

the next generation. In the particular story, the narrator is in search of the past that further can

shed light in the lives that have been lost to existence. Here the narrator came to understand

the hidden past of his grandfather some old letters were discovered which were written in

Russian. He had never understood his grandfather as he always thought of him as quiet and

observant. However, the letters shed light to the past that further shows that his grandfather

has an affaire which led to having an illegitimate grandchild that he had left behind in Latvia.

However, after coming back to his origin, he again established the relationship with the

woman and took care of her without talking about it to his other family. Therefore, the

narrator has justified saying that “It was dawning on me that I’d underestimated and under-

imagined him” (Bezmozgis 43).

From the story also, the characters can be understood especially seen the grandfather

from the eyes of the grandson. The narrator never expected his grandfather to harbour this
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Introduction   To Literature: Essay On Little Rooster

much secret even after his death. He never expected that though he seemed to be a fighter, he

never thought about disclosing some of the largest secrets that he maintained even after his

death. This shows that he was a character who can easily conceal some of the greatest secrets

which even his wife also never spoke about. However, after he gets back to Latvia he again

contacted the mother of the child and even kept his relation alive with his lover (Bezmozgis

45). On the other hand, the character of the grandson showcases the ideas of learning about

the past and give respect to it. However, in the way, he never felt so unsure of the fact

regarding knowing his grandfather which further created a stong point where it was not clear

how to feel about the character apart from acceptance.

The theme signifies that although some of the secrets are left behind, truth is always

going to come out even after years. However, when that occurs there is nothing left to feel

acceptance. The same thing occurred with the Narrator and the other heir of another family

Ruta and linked them in an unforeseen link that is not going to be broken after the big

revelation. The story ended as it signifies that past are required to stay there and it is in the

hand of the present generation the way they want to accept the past (Bezmozgis 46).

Conclusion

The story showcases that a secret can upheaval the lives of two families and it stays in

the hand of the younger generation either to respect it or keep a grudge. It also signifies that

past sometimes can reveal themselves in an unforeseen as well as uncomfortable way which

further can create a huge mark in the lives of the present.

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Introduction   To Literature: Essay On Little Rooster

Reference list

Bezmozgis, David. Immigrant City. Harper Collins Publishers, 2019, 1-72.

https://www.harpercollins.com/products/immigrant-city-david-bezmozgis?

variant=32110147371042