American Pastoral

What was special about Sweden after the war?

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After World War II, Sweden presented a new optimism in this country. The Jewish people in Sweden were finally free to live their lives as Americans and pursue the American dream. The threat of antisemitism and Hitler's hatred was no longer in the forefront, and along with the rest of the country, the economy looking forward was promising. People were patriotic and proud to be American, and they believed in traditional values of education, military service, work, and family. When the sixties came along, all of that optimism and hope was shadowed by the darkness of anger and mistrust in the country. Lou Levov is the character in the story who most exemplifies the "old school", and the feel of goodness and freedom that once was part of the culture. With Vietnam and Watergate came a recklessness of spirit, a seeming disrespect for old values and a lack of appreciation for all that the older generation had worked so hard to achieve.

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