Published Paper Details:

In American literature of the twentieth century, the idea of identity has taken a central role and has been used primarily in stories that explore the experience of immigrants and their moral transformation. The book The Assistant narrates the ethical and psychological path of a young Italian-American drifter Frank Alpine who is slowly changing due to his encounter with Morris Bober a Jewish grocer in Brooklyn. The story contains such themes as guilt, redemption, ethnicity, and human kindness. This research article discusses the way Malamud formulates identity as a moral process as opposed to a particular cultural aspect. The study examines the theme of character development, symbolism and morals in the novel using textual analysis and thematic interpretation. The results show that in the novel identity comes out of suffering, responsibility, and compassion towards other people. In conclusion of the study, it is concluded that Malamud and the way she gives a reflection of an identity demonstrates the general immigrant experience that takes place in America and puts into fore the universal human values.