Fiddler on the Roof

Fiddler on the Roof Summary | Act 1, Prologue Summary

The story begins outside Tevye's house, with a fiddler seated on the roof. Tevye addresses the audience, explaining that they are all as precarious as a fiddler on the roof, trying to stay up without breaking their necks. Why do they stay? It is because this small village is their home, and they keep their balance through tradition. They have traditions for every piece of their lives, such as always covering their heads and wearing a prayer shawl, which shows their constant devotion to God. Tevye tells the audience that he has no idea how the traditions began, but because of those traditions, everyone knows what part they play in life.

The village breaks into song about the types of parts each person plays in the village—mothers, fathers, sons, daughters. Then Tevye begins introducing various individuals in the village.

The matchmaker speaks to someone about his son. She has a perfect match for him. She is the shoemaker's daughter, but she has poor eyesight. The father protests, but the matchmaker reminds him that his son isn't much to look at, which is what makes it a perfect match.

The beggar asks for alms, and a man gives him a coin. The beggar complains that this man gave him 2 coins last week. The man explains that he had a bad week, but the beggar wants to know why he should suffer for someone else's bad week.

Another man speaks to the rabbi, asking for a proper blessing for the Tsar. The rabbi gives him a good one to bless the Tsar and keep him—away from the village.

Then there are the priest, the constable and several other Russians who inhabit the village, but outside the close Jewish circle. The Jews and other Russians try not to bother each other. However, there is an ongoing argument regarding the past sale of an animal, and whether that animal was a horse or a mule, and the villagers join in the argument before continuing with the song.

Tevye finished by repeating that without their traditions, their lives would be as shaky as a fiddler on the roof. Everyone leaves the stage, and the house opens so the audience can see inside.