Character Analysis

1. Hodel

• about 17
• Poor Jewish family from Anatevka.  Her father is a milkman, and she is one of five daughters.  They are to be married off to Jewish men from the village, so that is the future they have to look forward to. A very strict sense of Tradition among her family and friends.
• A young, pretty Jewish woman with dark hair and eyes.  Probably at the most beautiful stage of her life considering the harsh world they live in, so they age much earlier.  Since they are poor, she is most likely thin and not too tall as for lack of nutrition.  She wears tradition, conservative clothing for the time and place.  

2. She is very excited for her future,  She believes the next step of her life will hopefully open up some mystery to living a more fulfilling life. Yes, she wants to get married, and in the beginning she feels very firmly grounded in her Jewish upbringing.  However, as the story goes a long and she meets Perchik, she realizes that her entire self is defined by the limitations that her Jewish lifestyle has put upon her. Perchik gives her the opportunity to reinvent and redefine herself.  This is an exciting step forward that she is open to, very similar to the moment her and Perchik dance together.  She sees herself as independent and non reliant on customary matters.  She will think for herself, and sass whom she will on occasion.  Yet, she still believes there is a place for her and she should respectfully not cross the boundaries, simply push them.
3.  Other people would describe her as strong willed and passionate.  It is clear through her persistence regarding her love for Perchik.  She is determined to pursue this love that she has found.  One can see from her original attraction to the Rabbi's son that she wants the best for herself.  At that time, the best she can think of is a high up position in keeping with her culture.  However, she later discovers that what's best for her is completely unconventional.  I believe she can also be described as unapologetic. She knows what she wants, and she"ll hope for it to please others, but she will not sacrifice her ultimate happiness to appease someone else. She also has an interesting balance of internal maturity, yet social innocence due to the sheltered nature she was raised in.
4. Hodel is very focused on the future.  She doesn't understand Tzeitel's not wanting to get married.  She is intrigued by new and exciting ideas, such as men and women dancing together.  I believe she is very open to others.   Yet, she is easily offput by ideas not similar to hers when first introduced.
5. Her father is worried about her, yet has faith in her passion and deedication she has to love.  It is clear to both her father and Perchik that she has a teasingly indignant personality, sharp and witty, yet respectful. One of the most straightforward depictions of Hodel's personality is when she tells her father that she is engaged, and she and Perchik say, "I am not asking for your permission, only for your blessing.".  Hodel is respectful, and is not overly troubled by others. Her independence sets her aside from much of the unnecessary drama.
6-7. The character is in love with Perchik, a man who has just been arrested and taken to Siberia.  She is leaving her village, family, culture, and essentially herself, in order to be with her love.  She is having to explain to her dad that she never intended for something like this to happen, but now there is no way around it.  She is helpless, and must be with her love.  In order to convince her father, she must find peace with it herself.  She is not wishing for his permission, so there is no fight, but rather his blessing (once again).  She has to present a reasoning and explanation to her father to achieve this.  In the end, she demonstrates much maturity to her father by explaining as hard as it is to leave everything she's ever loved, her home, the man that she loved is where her heart lies therefore making wherever he is her home.  There is really no solution, but rather a pleasant departure between her and her father.
8. Independent, witty, curious, excited, passionate, dedicated, loving, respectful, strong-willed, open minded
9. She has mainly existed within her family,  Due to her culture she has not been allowed much interaction with men.  She has now fallen in love with Perchik.  It is the first relationship that she has really made herself.  Most others she was born into.  She is very close to her family, especially her father.  She holds a lot of respect for her community, but she is overwhelmed by the love that develops for Perchik.  It ultimately trumps her other relationships, as she goes off to be with him breaking all other ties she's ever had.