Even though it apperars that Tevye and the constable appear to be at least civil aquatince when the Russians attack at the wedding it shows that even if they do get along with the jewish (remeber they warned Tevye the "demonstration" was coming) they still fear the Tzar (their ruler) too much to defy him. If he orders it, they do it. However they did warn Tevye wich shows that they may not be happy with the procedures that their ruler has ordered to be carried out on the jews. Even if they feel that co-exsisting with the Jewish is possible for them, the actions in other villages have made it impossible. This leaves the Russian's in a tight spot, either betray their ruler and in a sense, their country or befriend their neighbour.
When the Russian's first begin their destruction rant Tevye does nothing. As the purge continues he still does nothing. To me this makes him seem like a bit of a coward. He is willing to let the Russian's come in and destroy a very special and monumental important celebration not only in his daughter's life but also in the villagers make-up as a group. They are indroducing two new adults into their social and working group. By Tevye standing by and doing nothing he is proving to the Russian's that they are nore powerful, they dominate him. Has he really come to terms with the fact that he can't fight the constable without fighting the Russian goverment itself? How did he handle that knowledge that he wasn't wanted, that even his friend the constable was willing to punish him for a crime he never commited?
No matter what was going on in Tevye's head at the time, it happened. And it gave us one more piece of the puzzle letting us know who they are and now their execution from the village came to be.
This confrontation proved a really important point to us. The Russian's will do whatever their Tzar orders them to beacuse they are too afraid of him and the Jewish will take it lying down out of fear that they be deported from Russia. It's not a very balanced relationship.
Very thoughtful relationship, especially handling the question of Tevye's response -- well done. Ideas are suppported precisely with specifically selected evidence. There are a few errors in grammar/usage, but none that affect my ability to understand your ideas.
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