American Pastoral

The glove is far more than a fashion accessory in American Pastoral. It represents the moral virtue of craftsmanship and the dedication to the American ethic of hard work (and the ticket to the American dream of financial prosperity). The pride of quality craftsmanship is evident in every discussion of the business, and there are many. The Swede and his father talk about gloves with the reverence some people reserve for religion or art. The glove epitomizes old-world tradition, a cultural artifact the Levovs cling to in a rapidly changing, industrialized new world. The factory is, for the Swede, a sanctuary of ethical business practices. He and his forewoman, Vicky, personally stand watch over the factory during the Newark rebellion, feeding the protesters and sympathizing with them; by the end of the riots, Newark Maid suffers only a few broken windows.

For the Swede, the glove is an artifact of civilization, swathing the workmanlike, utilitarian hand in elegance and style while also complementing the hand, allowing its full range of motion while protecting it, beautifying it, or sheltering it from the elements. The hand, with its opposable thumb, explains the Swede, elevates human beings above all other creatures.