This story recalls the figure of the Fiddler in the opening and closing scenes of the film, setting up the idea that our existence is precarious, like a Fiddler on the roof, many decisions we make in life -- what to do, whom to marry, how to raise children, and so forth -- are very difficult and consequential.
There are plenty of things to talk about in the film itself: traditional occupations and stereotypes in the small Russian village of Anatevka, for example. But also Tevye's belief in God and tradition as a stabilizing force in his community, his optimism. By the end of the picture, of course, his confidence has been shattered and he's facing emigration to American where he'll struggle to find a "familiar face."
What are we to make of the character of the Fiddler at the end of the movie, who seems to be following Tevye and his family to America?
How do we feel when we watch Tevye and his daughters struggle to maintain a balance between the needs of individuals and those of the family, tradition and change?
How do we related these feelings in our own lives? How has our relationship with the story changed over time?
