Mendel Gdański
Mendel Gdański a short story by Polish poet and short-story writer Maria Konopnicka published for the first time in 1890 in the Przegląd Literacki magazine. After three years it was published again in her miscellany of poems Na drodze ("On the Road").
The main reason for Maria Konopnicka's writing Mendel Gdański was the prevailing outbreak of anti-Semitism in Poland at that time. The opus tackles the remarkably current in the late 19th century matter of ethic minorities' assimilation. One of the people that inspired the author to write Mendel Gdański was a Polish writer Eliza Orzeszkowa who sent a letter to Konopnicka, in which she asked "in prose or in verse, write one or ten leaves as your word will colour, many may find the belief or awake their feelings and it will lull the others into a false sense of security..." (" czy prozą, czy wierszem, napisz jedną lub dziesięć kartek, słowo Twoje wiele zaważy, u wielu wiarę znajdzie, wiele uczuć wzbudzi, złych uśpi…"). [1]
Content
The action takes place in the second half of 19th century in Warsaw. An old Jewish Mendel observes the traffic and the passers-by. Not only does he know all the passing the street people, but also he is commonly known by all of them. Mendel works as a bookbinder. He has been living in Poland from the very beginning of his live and he has always viewed himself Polish. He runs a peaceful, still life and cares for his ten-year-old grandson Kuba, who he considers the apple of his eye. When one day the little boy returns from school devoided of his cap and reveals that this had happened due to running away from a young hooligan, who hooked that the former was a Jew, Mendel grows enraged. He explains the grandson that they cannot be ashamed of their origin. Furthermore, in spite if being Jews, they still possess the right to live in Warsaw, as they love it just as everyone else.
The next day Mendel is visited by a clockmaker admitting that the Jewish people are to be beaten in Poland. Wishing not to render a child feeling scared, the old man endeavours not to display embarrassment. When asked by Mendel why the Jewish could be beaten, the man replies, that they were strangeres. During long and intricate dispute, the old Mendel strikes to hold the clockmaker off, nonetheless the man does not seem to sympathise with Mendel's opinion. For him, "a Jew is always a Jew". Then, Mendel undertakes to explain why he is called "Gdański". He owes the surname as he has always associated it with the Poland, that his parents loved the most. Despite Mendel's efforts, the clockmaker leaves the property quickly.
That night, Mendel cannot sleep well. As Kuba leaves for school the next morning, the student catches him and admits, that the little boy is not allowed to leave, as the Jews are being beaten. Then, women come and advise to dangle Mother of God picture in front of the building, as only then Mendel and his family can be protected. In spite of his emotion, Mendel refuses and, praying and crying, approaches the window. The aggressors commence to attack but suddenly the student emerges and forbids them to assault the Jew. The enraged crowd falls out.[2]