Reflective Journal Of Henry David Thoreau's 'Asher Lev'

Reflective Journal #2 “Away from my world, alone in an apartment that offered me neither memories nor roots, I began to find old and distant memories of my own, long buried by pain and time and slowly brought to the surface now…. Now I would have to paint the street that could not be seen,” Asher Lev. So far away from his comforting world, Asher is forced to think beyond what his mind is upholding him to. Now that his childhood is only serving him as a memory, reality is kicking in and tearing his conscious apart. Dealing with the stress from his parents and especially his community, Asher starts to reflect to his past. Can art have limits? When I relate this question to Asher’s life, I automatically think no. Asher brought a huge dose of creativity to his own reflections. Every crucifixion that was created by Asher was all based off of his memory. An American poet by the name of Henry David Thoreau once said, “The world is but a canvas to the imagination.” Asher has found his canvas. His imagination is far beyond his surroundings. Even though the crucifixions are breaking away from his close community/family, Asher strides forward not turning back.
Asher Lev experienced many conflicts between his art and his Landover Hasidic community.
The nude pieces that were apart of his creations could not be accepted. The Jewish community left Asher abandoned and also left him with no hope and support. It seemed like there was no way to combining a “good Jew” and a “good artist.” During that time, there were two different views to the culture and the moralities that were brought along with it. Asher was left disowned. Having been in a community that could not accept his desire for art, Asher struggled with confusion. Looking through the confusion, Asher was left with a great deal of emotion to express through his art. Making his pieces so astounding and
beautiful. Beauty is viewed in many different ways. Some, based on their culture, find beauty in their morals or beliefs. Then others, like painters find beauty in art and nature. When Asher found that folded piece of paper in the waiting room, Asher’s eyes were exposed to a new world. There was something extremely significant about that piece. The date that was written on the piece of art reminded Asher about a time in his life. 1-10-56 was when Asher first experienced the secular world, one of the biggest turning points in Asher life. It was then that Asher met Kahn and marked the end of his days as a directionless amateur. “Wherever I travel now, there is always someone who knows your name. 'Are you the father of Asher Lev, the painter?' they ask me. It's a very strange feeling. Asher Lev, the painter.” The falling action to this story is greatly described in that passage. Aryeh, Asher’s father, has not been able to reconcile himself fully to Asher's choice of life. It still seems "strange" to him. The roles of Asher and Aryeh switched through out the book. In the beginning, Asher was hidden underneath the scrutiny and Aryeh was on a high traveling through Europe preaching his message. By the end of the book, Asher’s work began to attract a following. Aryeh could not grasp the concept of his son’s being but was still interested and affectionate towards him. Aryeh is just going to have to get use to hearing the name Asher Lev, the painter.