Fiddler on the Roof takes place in Russia during the early 1900s, in a jewish town called Anatevka, during the Pale of Settlement. The musical centers around Tevye, a father of 5 daughters (the 3 oldest have varying love stories), and is the sole narrator. Yente, the village’s matchmakers tells Golde (Tevye’s wife) that Lazar Wolf (the local butcher) wants to mary Tzeitel (Tevye’s oldest daughter). Yet, Tzeitel claims to be in love with Motel, a childhood friend, and the local tailor. Tevye’s 2nd daughter Hodel begins to fall in love with Perchick, a radical student from Kiev. Chava,  the third-eldest, is given a book by a young Christian named Fyedka, and they start to converse about literature. Meanwhile, Tevye agrees to arrange a marriage to Lazar Wolf with Tzeitel, when the Tzeitel and Motel claim to have given eachother “a pledge” of love, which shifts Tevye’s traditional views on marriage. Tevye has a dream which convinces Golde that the engagement between Tzeitel and the Lazar Wolf must be called off. At Tzeitel and Motel's wedding, the Russians attack and damage the village. The situation becomes increasingly unstable for Jews in the village: the Russians plan to expel them from their homes. Tzeitel and Motel have a baby, and Motel gets a sewing machine. Perchik and Hodel get engaged and tell Tevye, who is surprised they didn’t ask his permission. He initially refuses, but upon realizing they would elope, he gives them his blessing. Perchik is later arrested for his revolutionary activities and sent to Siberia where Hodel follows him. Chava and Fyedka also ask Tevye for their blessing to marry, but after some issues, he refuses to allow Chava to marry outside the Jewish faith. Chava and Fyedka then elope, and Tevye tells the family that Chava is dead to them. The Russians continue to enact persecution on the Jews, evicting them from their homes. Tevye, Golde, Motel, Tzeitel, and the others plan to leave to America. Chava and Fyedka speak to Golde, and though he still doesn’t talk to her, Tevye asks Golde to give them a blessing. The musical ends as everyone leaves their traditional village, with the fiddler following them out of Anatevka.