Act 1, Scene 2 Summary

We are outside Tevye's house once again. Tevye enters, pulling his cart. He stops and sits on the wagon seat before speaking. Tevye addresses God, asking why He continues to make his life so difficult—making his horse lose a shoe and go lame just before Sabbath, giving him 5 daughters and a life of poverty.

Golde comes out from the house, greets him and asks where his horse is. Tevye says he is at the blacksmith's for the Sabbath. Golde urges him to hurry; she has something to tell him.

After Golde goes back into the house. Tevye returns to his conversation with God. He's not really complaining about being poor; there are many poor people in the world, and there is no shame nor honor in being poor. Tevye asks if it would have been so bad if God had...