Fiddler on the Roof

Fiddler on the Roof takes place in the Ukraine during World War II. The story centers on Tevye, the father of five daughters, and his attempts to maintain his family and religious traditions while outside influences encroach upon their lives. During the Prologue ("Tradition"), Tevye describes the inner circle of the community and the larger circle which includes the constable, the priest, and countless other authority figures. He explains, "We don’t bother them and so far, they don’t bother us." He concludes by insisting that without their traditions, he and the other villagers would find their lives "as shaky as a fiddler on the roof."