Fiddler on the Roof

Two months later, Tevye speaks to God. He mentions that Tzeitel and Motel are poor but happy together. In Act II, Scene 1, Perchik is pursuing Hodel outside of Tevye’s as she walks away from him. She is angry that Perchik has told her that he will leave Anatevka in the morning. Perchik insists that the attack at Tzeitel’s wedding wasn’t an isolated incident but an indication of what is already happening everywhere—“pogroms, violence, whole villages are being emptied of their people” (68)—and Perchik must go back to Kiev to join the fight against it. Hodel understands and says goodbye, but Perchik, in an anxious, roundabout way, asks Hodel to marry him. She agrees, and Perchik happily sings “Now I Have Everything.” Perchik promises to send for her as soon as possible, warning her that their life will not be an easy one. Hodel replies, “But it will be less hard…if we live it together” (70).

Tevye enters, and Perchik tells him that he is leaving, but that he and Hodel are engaged. Surprised, Tevye refuses to allow the marriage although Hodel and Perchik attempt to persuade him.