Ethnic Antagonism in Bernard Malamud's The Tenants

Abstract

The present study on Bernard Malamud'sThe Tenantstries to analyze the antagonism of a black character in a Jewish ethnic dominated society. The antagonism is, therefore, called ethnic antagonism. Willie Spearmint, as a representative of black ethnic group, advocates such antagonism against ethnic dominations and discriminations caused by Jewish ethnic group. WillieSpearmint's protest takes a powerful form. His act of rejection against all sort of suppressions and dominations attempted by the Jewish writer Harry Lesser, is the act of his identity creation. It is revolution for blacks' ethnic freedom, and empowerment. Thus, the problem is: who is responsible for the conflict? This research justifies that the ethnic dominating society which creates such a hostile situation of antagonism is more responsible.