The First Seven Years by Bernard Malamud

Introduction

  • Author: Bernard Malamud

  • Publication: Originally published in Partisan Review (September–October 1950) and collected in The Magic Barrel (1958).

  • Context: The narrative revolves around Feld, a shoemaker, his daughter Miriam, and Max, a college boy, intertwining their lives through themes of education, love, and societal expectations.

Characters

  • Feld: The shoemaker, practical, thoughtful, and concerned about his daughter’s future.

  • Sobel: Feld’s helper, a Polish refugee who is deeply engaged in reading and has unspoken feelings for Miriam.

  • Miriam: Feld’s daughter, who values independence and initially rejects the idea of college education.

  • Max: A college student, admired by Feld for his commitment to education and his potential to enrich Miriam’s life.

Plot Summary

  • Setting: The story begins with Feld working in his shoe repair shop during a snowy winter, reflecting on his life and his daughter's choices.

  • Feld's Annoyance with Sobel:   - Sobel’s loud work bothers Feld as he reflects on his past, particularly his nostalgic memories of Poland and his daughter's educational decisions.   - Feld respects Max for his dedication to education, contrasting it with Miriam’s indifference.

Feld’s Desire for Miriam

  • Feld’s Regret: Wishes he had a son instead of a daughter, as seen through his admiration for Max.

  • Contrast: Max’s diligence as a peddler’s son is contrasted with Miriam's lack of regard toward her education.

  • Miriam’s Stance: Prefers work over college, citing independence as her reason.

The Encounter with Max

  • The Arrival of Max: Feld's heart races when he recognizes Max entering the shop to get his shoes repaired.   - Shoemaker’s Dilemma: Feld contemplates introducing Max to Miriam but fears their reactions.   - Decision to Introduce: Ultimately, Feld feels it’s his duty to connect them, believing it could spark Miriam’s interest in education or help her secure a better life.

The Introduction

  • Conversation with Max: Feld acknowledges Max’s pursuit of an education and awkwardly proposes meeting Miriam.

  • Max's Interest: After looking at a picture of Miriam, Max agrees to meet her, furthering Feld's hopes for a union.

  • Cost of Repairs: Feld charges Max less than usual, reflecting his excitement and personal investment in the new relationship.

Sobel’s Departure

  • Conflict with Sobel: Following a breakdown (breaking a last), Sobel leaves the shop in a huff, causing Feld concern as his health limits him from running the shop alone.

  • Feld’s Reflection: Describes Sobel as having transformed into a competent shoemaker and his reliance on him for business and emotional support.

Relationship Developments

  • Miriam and Max's Meeting: They agree to meet, and Feld's anticipation builds.

  • Miriam’s Reaction: After their first date, she reports being bored, describing Max as a materialist lacking depth and soul.

Max’s True Nature

  • Miriam’s Evaluation: She expresses disappointment in Max’s character, correctly identifying a lack of passion or intellectual curiosity.   - Key Quote: Miriam’s assessment of Max—“He has no soul. He’s only interested in things.”

Sobel’s Return

  • Feld's Heart Attack: A subsequent theft by the new assistant leads to Feld’s concern for Sobel's return.

  • Sobel's Emotion: On questioning, Sobel reveals he harbored feelings for Miriam, igniting Feld’s defensive nature.

  • The Confrontation: Sobel insists his loyalty was not just for wages but for love.

Emotional Climax

  • Feld’s Contemplation: In an emotional moment, Feld feels sorrow for Miriam’s fate if she were to marry Sobel, seeing it as a repeat of his own struggles.

  • Final Plea: Feld asks Sobel to wait two years for Miriam to mature before pursuing her.

  • Sobel’s Return to Work: Sobel shows up the next day, reinvigorated and dedicated to his shoemaking, despite the complexities between them.

Themes

  • Education and Ambition: The contrast between Feld’s pride in Max’s education and Miriam’s dismissive attitude towards academic achievement.

  • Love and Sacrifice: Sobel’s unvoiced feelings for Miriam highlight themes of unrequited love and the sacrifices made for others.

  • Parental Concerns: Feld's desires reflect the typical father’s hopes for a respectable future for his daughter and his struggles with her independence.

  • Cultural Expectations: The socio-economic backgrounds of the characters play a crucial role, illustrating the immigrant experience and American life during the 1950s.

Conclusion

  • Ambiguous End: The story concludes with mixed feelings, leaving audiences pondering the fates of relationships and aspirations across different generations.

  • Moral Reflection: It emphasizes the complexity of human emotions and the decisions we make in pursuit of personal wishes in the backdrop of familial obligations and societal constraints.