Summary of Fiddler on the Roof

Fiddler on the Roof is about Reb Tevye and his family, the book's theme mostly focuses on the changing and growth of their Jewish society. Tevye and his wife, Golde, have five daughters. They are a poor family because Tevye is a milkman. The whole family strictly follows the Jewish traditions in the beginning. The matchmaker, Yente, is setting their oldest daughter, Tzeitel, up with the butcher, Lazar Wolf. This was the tradition, the matchmaker set you up, and you got a husband. Without telling Tzeitel, Tevye makes a deal with Lazar that he can marry her. When Tzeitel finds out, she begs him not too and the poor tailer, Motel, confesses their love and Tevye agrees to let them marry, even though it breaks tradition. In the meantime, Tevye has invited a young foreign individualistic scholar, Perchik, into his home to tutor his daughters. At Tzeitel's and Motel's wedding Perchik breaks another tradition by dancing with Tevye's second youngest daughter, Holde. These two end up telling Tevye they are getting married, and don't ask his permission, but for his blessing. He grudgling grants it. In the meantime Chava, the next youngest daughter, has fallen in love with a non Jewish man, Fyedka. But when Chava tells her father of this. He refuses to let them marry, so they run away together and get married and Teyve basically disowns her. Perchik had to go back to school and Holde leaves to be with him after he is arrested. Motel gets a sewing machine right before all the villagers are kicked out, Tzeitel, Motel, and their child split up with the rest of the family. Tevye and his family go to America and Tevye acknowledges Chava and tells her good luck.