Grossbart Analysis

Grossbart’s frequent false use of his Jewish identity is noticed by Marx and creates tension between the two Characters. Grossbart, a young Jewish boy, frequently uses his religion to gain special privileges such as days off base, kosher foods, and absence from cleaning. Grossbart uses Marx, a veteran sergeant and fellow Jew, to obtain these privileges. Marx has sacrificed the privileges and duties which come with being Jewish in order to help with the war effort by fully contributing himself and not needing extra resources or attention. Marx begins to realize how Grossbart is simply using his Judaism to benefit himself and resents him more and more as the story progresses. Grossbart’s initial request to skip cleaning duty so he can attend
Shul sets in place the first thoughts by Marx that Grossbart uses his religion selfishly. On friday nights, a rabbi holds Shul in the army base. Grossbart and the other Jewish soldiers request to attend this service, which coincidentally causes them to miss cleaning duty. Marx approves this request, and when they leave he follows them to the service. During the service Marx observes Grossbart’s odd and disrespectful behavior as Grossbart chugs the ceremonial wine, and also fails to open his prayerbook once. Marx even overhears Grossbart saying “Let the Goyim clean the floors!”, showing that Grossbart is pleased with the fact he left all the cleaning for the non Jewish soldiers. These actions cause Marx to question the importance of Shul to Grossbart, and asks him if attends Shul when he is home. Grossbart responds by saying “Not so much at home, but away from home it gives one a sense of his jewishness” (pg.123). This reply shows the reader, and Marx, how little attending Shul actually means to Grossbart. He admits that he doesn't attend Shul at home, but while in the army he decides it is important for him to go. The lack of a good reason as to why Grossbart must miss cleaning duty and attend Shul shows how attending is not really what is important to him, and getting out of cleaning the barracks is. Marx realizes this and seeds of tension between the two are planted. These seeds blossom at the end of the story when Grossbart returns from a day off base. At the end of the story, Marx discovers that Grossbart lied to him about attending a seder to get off base.
Grossbart had begged Marx to let him go to a relatives for a late seder, and Marx, being a Jew himself, understands and allows him to go. Grossbart returns the next day and Marx questions him about how it was. Grossbart admits he “misread” and the dinner was next week. This sparks rage in Marx as he figures out he had been used, which causes him to attack Grossbart by saying, “You’ve got no respect for anything...you use us all!” (136). Marx is finally confronting Grossbart about his abuse of his religion, accusing him of not respecting it at all. He knows now that Grossbart has used their common religion as a tool to make Marx more willing to allow Grossbart to obtain privileges most of the other soldiers don't have, which contrasts Marx’s personal beliefs on religion in the army. This confrontation opens up a wound between the two that cannot be healed. The reality of the situation is evident and there is no covering it up. Grossbart’s mistreatment and misuse of his religion has been realized by Marx, and the tension between the two characters is massive. The manipulation by Grossbart of the course of the book is evidence to Marx that Grossbart is a “crook” and lies to get privileges in the army. At first his manipulation was subtle, and Marx realized it but left it unsaid, letting the tension build and build until finally, he explodes and brings the issue to the
surface.