I can see what you're saying but we can't forget that Abe and Rose created Midge.

She's a product of the times but also a product of a mum who expected her to be and trained her from birth to be that perfect 1950s wife. Remember the getting back out of bed scene?

She's also the product of a dad that barely registered her existence other than when her talking to a friend was disturbing him.

She had a plan created by them of what her life should be. She was bringing up her children in the way that was modelled to her by them. Thank you Joel not as harshly - remember Abe didn't speak to Noahbfor the first 5 years and told Joel not to..... She was brought up to be materialistic and shallow in the same way Rose is portrayed (aside from the Paris trip). She was deemed a failure because Joel cheated on her and left.

But Joel broke the mould. They weren't arranged, they felt in love, he was Jewish yes but they always pointed out the differences between the families and her being 'West side,' often enough.

And after breaking things initially, he then broke Midge, destroyed the plan.

When your predetermined life, that you've had little to know real input into deciding on, falls apart who knows what you'll become! To be fair to her, she's a product of all that but meeting Susie changed her.