In chapter two of My Name is Asher Lev, many changes take place in Asher’s lifestyle, in turn giving the reader a more intricate view of Asher’s central character. With the topic of his artistic ability suddenly dropped, other themes begin to develop and provide a new atmosphere in which Asher is faced with. Due to the importance of events going on in the world, Asher is increasingly ignored by his parents. They both attend to their own studies and items of global importance, in turn providing Asher a sense of loss. His mother is always studying over books, putting Asher in a setting where he must not disturb her or make a sound. In one instance, Asher tries to reach out to his mother when she is frightened, yet when she goes to answer the telephone he recalls, "she gave no indication of having seen me." He had been ignored again.
Asher’s father also tends to look past him, having more important work to do for the Rebbe. He is continuously absent from Asher’s life, resuming journeys to Washington D.C. and Boston to discuss major events with the government. Even though "he glowed with new life" because of his passion for the job, his truancy leaves in Asher a feeling of loss. At one point Asher remarks, "Each journey became for me another day when he was gone from the apartment." From this, the deprivation Asher begins to feel can definitely be seen.
As the level of neglect increases in Asher’s life, he begins to lose a sense of concern. Particularly, it can be seen that his studies are slacking. In one instance, another student points out that Asher does not know his times tables and will fail the arithmetic test, yet all Asher can say is, "I don’t care." It becomes obvious that Asher no longer wants to go to school and does not want to be bothered with studies of his own. The loss he deals with at home and the confusion he is facing inside himself leaves no yearning to achieve success within a classroom. This proves the corruption he is already facing because of the lack of love being received.
With the setting and deficiency of positive attention Asher is being faced with, it can be predicted that something drastic is going to occur. A young boy can only experience so much before he attempts to awaken those around him and introduce them to his senses. I am curious to find out what will occur in the next couple of chapters and whether or not Asher’s artistic talent will become the seclusion he needs to get away from the reality of the world.