Is it better to go it alone than pretend you're someone you aren't, or is one truly the loneliest number that you'll ever do? In My Name Is Asher Lev, the theme of individuality is explored in great depth. Asher's main struggle (much like the struggle of anyone growing up anywhere) is how to do his own thing without sacrificing the close relationships he's developed with others in his community. In Asher's case, his individuality puts him at risk for losing some of the relationships he really counts on.
Questions About Individuality
- You've probably heard of the whole individual versus society conflict in lit class…so how does it play out in this book? What are the major conflicts Asher experiences between his inner desires and the society around him?
- How does Asher grow and change as an individual throughout the book?
- What does Asher have to sacrifice in order to become an individual?
- How is Aryeh's idea of individuality different from Asher's?
Chew on This
My Name Is Asher Lev is about the tensions that arise between a unique individual and the community he's growing up in.
We learn through the story of Asher's life—and his struggle to balance his art with his religion— that no one can be defined by a single label.