True Emotional Artwork in Amy Bloom’s Away

True Emotional Artwork in Amy Bloom’s Away


Losing something often generates many different emotions; frustration at perhaps never finding it again, confusion as to what may have happened to it, sadness from the realization that it may never be recovered. Losing something, (depending on the size and magnitude of it) can make an individual’s life all the more difficult. However, losing someone is entirely different through various circumstances, from which some people never recover yet from which some people discover new attributes about themselves they never knew they possessed, perseverance, hope, strength and a renewed sense of faith crucial to understanding the situation in which they currently find themselves.
In Amy Bloom’s Away, the character, Lillian Leyb is on a major journey. At first it is clear to the reader that Lillian has made the voyage to New York City from Russia after the horrific massacre of her family and half her village. She is determined to start a new life in a city full of promise, with “streets paved with gold.” As Lillian makes her way to her cousin, Frieda’s apartment on the Lower East Side, she is taken aback by all the sights and sounds of this vast and magical city. As she arrives, there is a woman sitting on the stoop across the street rocking back and forth while sobbing. Looking at Frieda with a quizzical expression on her face, Lillian is told that Mrs. Lipkin has been evicted, the lesson being “you don’t pay, you don’t stay,” (Bloom 8). Living with her cousin and several other roommates, including Judith, a woman who is also boarding at Frieda’s and who is often annoyed with Lillian, especially when she is woken up in the middle of the night by Lillian’s screams due to her vivid nightmares.
As her new life progresses in the big city, Lillian soon becomes the new flavor of the week of one of the wealthiest, most famous actors in town, Meyer Burstein. The affair turns into a serious relationship until Lillian is soon finding herself being swept away from Meyer’s father, Rueben, becoming his willing mistress. Lillian is subject to a completely different lifestyle than the one she has known in Russia and even in her cousin Frieda’s apartment, in which she no longer lives. There are lavish parties, the infamous, sultry club where Lillian is often seen sitting between Rueben Burstein, Meyer and their family friend, Yaakov Shimmelman, (an older man, friend of Rueben who tried to kill himself after losing his wife and child) who becomes a mentor and dear friend of Lillian’s.
Lillian still grapples with the tremendous loss of her family, including her young daughter, Sophie, which is brought to life every night through her nightmares. However, when Lillian’s cousin, Raisele arrives with alarming news that Sophie may be alive, Lillian is filled with a new hope and is determined to find her child.
Lillian sets out on a journey north, determined to eventually reach Russia and find her long-lost daughter; to reclaim her as her own. Throughout her journey, new characters are introduced to Lillian and to the reader, making their own indelible impression on both. Gumdrop, a prostitute that Lillian meets in Seattle who teaches Lillian a life lesson of her own, Mary and Martha Hornsmith, two Christian women who Lillian meets on a steamship bound for Alaska, who share their faith with her even though they do not believe in the same one, Torbjorn Jensen and Oyvind, the father and son who help Lillian prepare for her arduous journey across the Yukon. These characters are presented to Lillian to sustain her, to encourage her even though they may not know her entire life story. They are her pillars of strength, hope and faith.
There are three primary characters in addition to Lillian that stand out to this author and whose relationships with Lillian are the epitome of friendship, kindness and love. Yaakov Shimmelman, the older man, the friend of Rueben Burstein, becomes a mentor to Lillian. He coaches her and prepares her for her journey, all the while being sad to see her go. Their relationship is one Lillian will carry with her through her entire journey.
Another character that definitely made an impression is that of Arthur Gilpin. Arthur is a man who has lost his wife and with that, all meaning of life. It is not until Lillian arrives, yearning to continue on her adventure, that Arthur regains his ability to love life once again. He becomes Lillian’s protector and gets her a job at the local prison; his reasoning being that the weather is too dangerous to make the trip, however it is clear that Arthur is also very lonely and this is his chance to finally have human interaction that possibly means something. Throughout her stay at the prison, Lillian is drawn to Arthur and they develop a kind and loving relationship that enables both of them to continue with their lives and their mission of finding happiness. As Lillian is finally getting ready to depart, Arthur’s new wife, Lorena, says to the conductor, “This is our daughter,” and as she waves goodbye to Lillian, she says, “You kiss little Sophie for us,” (Bloom 183). This is perhaps the most moving part in Bloom’s entire piece, illustrating that even though Lillian is searching for a member of her real family, she has established roots with a surrogate one.
The third individual in this novel that really strikes a chord with this author is John Bishop. Initially, he seems rough and abrasive, living in a shack all by himself, relegated to solitude due to a violent act he committed. John teaches Lillian not only love but the ability to rely on other people, as it is difficult for Lillian to do, traveling alone for such a long period of time. John and Lillian develop a romantic yet short-lived relationship however, their connection conveys the power of true love to the audience.
Just as the readers think that Lillian is going to come full circle once she arrives back in Russia, they are surprised by the twists and turns that Amy Bloom reveals to them and it is more than fitting that the title is what it is; a clear representation of a journey that will take Lillian toward a new life where opportunity is apparent through every window.