(Homberger, 2002) Initially, the diction supported by the characters in the novel is finely crafted to fabricate an oppression of religious views. However, upon further observation of Asher Lev, one can undoubtedly recognize in his manner of speech the defiant attitude he holds against the religion that condemns him for his talent. .
"They say my paintings are a desecration of the name of God. Yet, when I paint, I think of the truth of the painting. If you are to tell me that some truths are best left buried, then God should not have given me this talent." (Potok 118) .
This implies Asher's decision to continue his artwork and his rebellion against the cultural restrictions that have attempted to conform him. He believes that God should not have given him his talent if he were expected to paint what he did not believe in. .
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Another form of style involves the usage of literary devices to draw awareness to the theme. In the film The War, the writer Cathy McWorter includes many rhetorical devices to emphasize the revolt against culture. As the story takes place in a 1970 Mississippi town, it is not difficult to believe the apparent poverty, racism and hopelessness that complicate the effort for survival and, in result, shape the lifestyle of those people. (Finish paragraph later).
Symbolism is the use of a person, an object, a place, or an idea to represent itself and something beyond itself at the same time. It is the symbolism that weighs meaning upon the theme, and can provide one with a deeper understanding of a normally insignificant situation. In the theme of cultural rebellion, symbolism can cause additional frustration for the characters, or it can be the result of the characters" frustration. The novel The Gift of Asher Lev is an example where the emotional significance of specific objects amplifies the overall tension of the situation. Asher Lev expresses himself and his perception of life through his paintings.
