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Abraham Isaac and Malamud

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The biblical story of Abraham and Isaac's fateful journey to Mount Moriah haunts three pivotal works by Bernard Malamud, weaving through "Idiots First," "The Silver Crown," and his final novel "God's Grace." In each retelling, Malamud transforms the ancient narrative and its midrashic interpretations into modern parables about the intricate bonds between parents and children. Through comparative literary analysis of Malamud's texts alongside their biblical and rabbinic sources, distinct patterns emerge: "Idiots First" recasts the Akedah through Mendel's desperate protection of his mentally impaired son Isaac from Ginzburg, a death-angel figure. "The Silver Crown" inverts the traditional tale, presenting a son whose faithlessness renders him unable to save his dying father. "God's Grace" merges the Abraham and Isaac roles in protagonist Calvin Cohn, who faces sacrifice without divine mercy. Examining recurring motifs, character parallels, and thematic adaptations reveals Malamud's sophisticated integration of midrashic tradition into contemporary storytelling. His consistent message emerges clearly: humanity's essence lies in loving, protecting, and respecting one another. When these fundamental human bonds break, Malamud suggests, tragedy and death inevitably follow.

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  • Publication Information

    Published 1993

    ISBN

  • Publication Credits

    David Zucker